What stands out worked out from the figures below

Redding has the most affordable homes ($706k median).

Darien has the most expensive homes ($1822k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Redding	Darien
People
Population	8,780Lowest	21,936Highest
Median age	52±2Highest 27% above CT	40±1.5Lowest about the CT average
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5%	13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.1%Lowest CT: 42.5%	85.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	4.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
	Darien and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$186,060±$15kLowest 94% above CT	$250,001Highest 161% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$706,300±$33kLowest 93% above CT	$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,101±$304Lowest 41% above CT	$3,501Highest 135% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6%	60.8%±11.7Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Redding and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest CT: 10%	5.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	82.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 36% above CT	39 minHighest 46% above CT
Work from home	32.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 16%	35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16%
	Darien and Redding 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	#2 of 149 in CT
School district	Redding School District · Regional School District 09	Darien School District
High school in town	Joel Barlow High School	Darien High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.