Compare towns

Durham vs Redding vs Beacon Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k 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.

MeasureDurhamReddingBeacon Falls
People
Population
3,347Lowest
8,780Highest
6,147
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+28.6%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
47.9±5.4Lowest
17% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
48.4±3.8
18% above CT
Redding and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15%±4.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
18%±4.8
CT: 20.2%
Redding and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±4.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
Redding and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
44.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±3.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,396±$32k
59% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$101,516±$42kLowest
6% above CT
Redding and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$401,700±$32k
9% above CT
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$350,300±$34kLowest
5% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,625±$1kLowest
9% above CT
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
$1,921±$286
29% above CT
Redding and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,107
7% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$6,534Lowest
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±35
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
50.7%±30.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.1%Highest
CT: 10%
4%
CT: 10%
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90%
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
85.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
8 yrs newer than CT
1972Lowest
5 yrs newer than CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
33 min
23% above CT
Work from home
20%±6.7Lowest
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.4
CT: 16%
Redding and Beacon Falls 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 #88 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT #77 of 149 in CT
School district — Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Regional School District 16
High school in town — Joel Barlow High School Woodland Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.2Highest
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.