Compare towns
Redding vs Darien 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 homeowners (91.6%).
Darien has the most expensive homes ($1822k median).
Old Lyme has the most affordable homes ($484k 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.
| Measure | Redding | Darien | Old Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,780 |
21,936Highest |
7,679Lowest |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
40±1.5Lowest about the CT average |
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% |
30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% CT: 42.5% |
85.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest 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±$15k 94% above CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
$131,899±$11kLowest 38% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
$484,200±$21kLowest 32% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Lowest 41% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,238±$295 50% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,284Lowest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above CT |
39 minHighest 46% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9 CT: 16% |
35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7Lowest 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 | #10 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Darien School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Darien High School | Lyme-Old Lyme High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.7 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.