Compare towns
Bethel vs Suffield vs Redding vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Ellington has the most kids (24% 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 | Bethel | Suffield | Redding | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,796Highest |
15,702 |
8,780Lowest |
16,455 |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,541±$7kLowest 22% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$129,913±$17k 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,600±$16k 18% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$366,900±$17kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142 10% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,737±$212 17% above CT |
| Redding and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 23% above CT |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,751 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Suffield School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Suffield High School | Joel Barlow High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.9 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.