Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Redding vs Cornwall vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Redding has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Cornwall has the most affordable homes ($555k 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 | Bridgewater | Redding | Cornwall | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658 |
8,780Highest |
1,425Lowest |
2,303 |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
52±2Lowest 27% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Redding and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5k 66% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$128,864±$34kLowest 35% above CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75k 89% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$554,600±$106kLowest 51% above CT |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
| Redding and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
| Redding and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869 3% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,792Lowest 13% below CT |
$7,328 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
| Redding and Cornwall 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 | — | #14 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Cornwall School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.