Compare towns
Redding vs Durham vs Ridgefield 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 people working from home (32.5%).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Durham | Ridgefield | Old Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780 |
7,208Lowest |
25,109Highest |
7,679 |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
45.1±1.4Lowest 10% above 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%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Old Lyme 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest 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 | $186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
$131,899±$11kLowest 38% 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 |
$424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above 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 |
$7,998 20% 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% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT | #10 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Regional School District 13 | Ridgefield School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Ridgefield High School | Lyme-Old Lyme High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
8.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
9.6 |
| 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.