Compare towns
Redding vs Norwalk vs Plainfield
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%).
Norwalk has the most renters (44.4% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Norwalk | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,780Lowest |
92,187Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Redding 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%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield 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 |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Redding and Norwalk 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 |
$7,817 18% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
14.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.