Compare towns

Prospect vs Redding vs Ridgefield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Redding has the oldest population (median age 52).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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.

MeasureProspectReddingRidgefield
People
Population
9,458
8,780Lowest
25,109Highest
Median age
46.8±3.9
14% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
45.1±1.4Lowest
10% above CT
Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
24.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
Ridgefield and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±4.3
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
72.1%
CT: 42.5%
72.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
4.5%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
Ridgefield and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,394±$18kLowest
32% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$179,219±$12k
87% 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
$355,400±$21kLowest
3% below CT
$706,300±$33k
93% above CT
$836,200±$26kHighest
128% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433Lowest
21% above CT
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
$2,026±$200
36% above CT
Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,504Lowest
about the CT average
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
53.3%±12
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
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
4%Highest
CT: 10%
3.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
83.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1972Lowest
5 yrs newer than CT
1972Lowest
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
33 min
25% above CT
Work from home
10.1%±3.2Lowest
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
29.7%±3.7
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 #50 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT #4 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 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

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.