Compare towns
Bethany vs Redding vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
Redding has the oldest population (median age 52).
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bethany | Redding | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
8,780 |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kLowest 74% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$2,026±$200Lowest 36% above CT |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Lowest 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.