Compare towns

Redding vs New Haven 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 expensive homes ($706k median).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).

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.

MeasureReddingNew HavenOld Lyme
People
Population
8,780
134,349Highest
7,679Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
52±2Highest
27% above CT
31.9±0.5Lowest
22% below 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%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
21.3%±1Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±3.1
CT: 20.2%
New Haven 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%
11.8%±0.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
38.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
56.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
14.9%±0.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$56,851±$4kLowest
41% below CT
$131,899±$11k
38% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$287,100±$16kLowest
22% below CT
$484,200±$21k
32% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,101±$304
41% above CT
$1,488±$33Lowest
about the CT average
$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
$6,430
3% below CT
$6,284Lowest
5% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
56.6%±3.2
CT: 52.6%
51.6%±17.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Redding and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
CT: 10%
23.9%Highest
CT: 10%
2.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
28.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
88.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1954Lowest
13 yrs older than CT
1965
2 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above CT
22 minLowest
19% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
13.9%±1.6Lowest
CT: 16%
24.2%±5.7
CT: 16%
Redding and Old Lyme 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 #145 of 149 in CT #10 of 149 in CT
School district Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District Regional School District 18
High school in town Joel Barlow High School Wilbur Cross High School Lyme-Old Lyme High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
13.7Highest
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.