Compare towns
Redding vs Bethany vs Plainfield vs Old Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Old Lyme has the oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
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 | Redding | Bethany | Plainfield | Old Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780 |
5,288Lowest |
15,141Highest |
7,679 |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
50.6±3.3 23% above CT |
| Redding and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$131,899±$11k 38% above CT |
| Redding and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304 41% above CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,284 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7 CT: 16% |
| Redding and Old Lyme 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 | #14 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #10 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Lyme-Old Lyme High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.