Compare towns
Redding vs Plainfield vs Putnam 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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Putnam | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780Lowest |
15,141 |
9,292 |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% 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 |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
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.