Compare towns
Darien vs Redding vs New Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Darien has the most kids (30.9% under 18).
Redding has the most affordable homes ($706k 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 | Darien | Redding | New Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,936Highest |
8,780Lowest |
20,870 |
| Median age | 40±1.5Lowest about the CT average |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
42.1±2.5 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
26.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Darien and New Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
82.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| New Canaan and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 161% above CT |
$186,060±$15kLowest 94% above CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
$706,300±$33kLowest 93% above CT |
$1,611,900±$74k 339% above CT |
| Darien and New Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,101±$304Lowest 41% above CT |
$3,401±$360 129% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+ at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+ at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
56%±8.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
3.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above CT |
36 minLowest 36% above CT |
38 min 43% above CT |
| Work from home | 35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 16% |
35.1%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Darien and New Canaan 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 | #2 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #1 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Darien School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | New Canaan School District |
| High school in town | Darien High School | Joel Barlow High School | New Canaan High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
12.3Highest |
| 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.