Compare towns
Darien vs Ridgefield vs Weston
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 expensive homes ($1822k median).
Ridgefield has the most affordable homes ($836k median).
Weston has the most people working from home (44.9%).
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 | Ridgefield | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,936 |
25,109Highest |
10,396Lowest |
| Median age | 40±1.5Lowest about the CT average |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
45.7±2.7Highest 11% above CT |
| Weston and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
26.4%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Darien and Weston 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% |
18.7%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.3%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Ridgefield and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
83.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Weston 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 |
$179,219±$12kLowest 87% above CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
$836,200±$26kLowest 128% above CT |
$996,700±$52k 172% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,026±$200Lowest 36% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% 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% |
53.3%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
77.9%±36.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Weston 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% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
96.9%Highest 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 min 46% above CT |
33 minLowest 25% above CT |
47 minHighest 76% above CT |
| Work from home | 35.5%±6.6 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
44.9%±7.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Weston and Darien 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 | #4 of 149 in CT | #5 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Darien School District | Ridgefield School District | Weston School District |
| High school in town | Darien High School | Ridgefield High School | Weston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.