Compare towns
Danbury vs Ridgefield vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ridgefield has the highest household income ($179k).
Middletown has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Danbury | Ridgefield | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 87,263Highest |
25,109Lowest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ridgefield and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$63 24% above CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
| Ridgefield and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,877Lowest 12% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±4.8 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #137 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District | Ridgefield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Danbury High School | Ridgefield High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.