Compare towns
Redding vs Hamden vs Plainfield 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).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hamden | Plainfield | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780Lowest |
61,045Highest |
15,141 |
25,109 |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below 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 |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,026±$200 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 |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.