Compare towns
Bethany vs Ridgefield vs Beacon Falls
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 homeowners (97.2%).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
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 | Ridgefield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
25,109Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest 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% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
$1,921±$286Lowest 29% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,534Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
3.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Ridgefield and Beacon Falls 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 | #4 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Ridgefield School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ridgefield High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.