Compare towns
Redding vs Prospect vs Ridgefield vs Wilton
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).
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Ridgefield has the most renters (16.5% rent).
Wilton has the highest household income ($242k).
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 | Prospect | Ridgefield | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780Lowest |
9,458 |
25,109Highest |
18,777 |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
43.1±1.7Lowest 5% above CT |
| Redding and Prospect 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% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wilton and Ridgefield 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% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
75.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Wilton 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±$15k 94% above CT |
$126,394±$18kLowest 32% above CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
$242,199±$16kHighest 153% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$836,200±$26k 128% above CT |
$928,800±$28kHighest 153% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,800±$433Lowest 21% above CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
$1,819±$438 22% 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 |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±15.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
36 min 35% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
33.8%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Wilton and Redding 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT | #6 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Regional School District 16 | Ridgefield School District | Wilton School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | None in town | Ridgefield High School | Wilton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.