Compare towns
Redding vs Killingly vs Sterling 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).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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 | Killingly | Sterling | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780 |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Sterling 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
35 min 34% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.