Compare towns
Middlefield vs Redding vs Ridgefield vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
Durham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Middlefield | Redding | Ridgefield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
8,780 |
25,109Highest |
3,347Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.1±1.4Lowest 10% above CT |
47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
| Redding and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
42.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
$152,396±$32k 59% 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 | $376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$401,700±$32k 9% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
$1,625±$1kLowest 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Lowest 3% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,107 7% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
20%±6.7 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Ridgefield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | Ridgefield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
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.