Compare towns
Redding vs Bethany vs Ridgefield
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 oldest population (median age 52).
Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,780 |
5,288Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% CT: 42.5% |
58%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Ridgefield 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±$20kLowest 74% 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 | $706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
— | $2,026±$200Lowest 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,313Lowest 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
32 minLowest 21% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest 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 | #14 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | None in town | 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.