Compare towns
Durham vs Redding vs Ridgefield vs Middlebury
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 most affordable homes ($425k median).
Redding has the oldest population (median age 52).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
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 | Durham | Redding | Ridgefield | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
8,780 |
25,109Highest |
7,807 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
44.4±2.3Lowest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlebury and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
$133,487±$26kLowest 39% above CT |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Redding and Ridgefield 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 | #4 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Ridgefield School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Joel Barlow High School | Ridgefield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.