Compare towns
Redding vs Somers vs Suffield vs Bethel
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%).
Somers has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Bethel has the most renters (24.8% 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.
| Measure | Redding | Somers | Suffield | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780Lowest |
10,308 |
15,702 |
20,796Highest |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
43.1±2.6 5% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
42.8±2.6Lowest 4% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Somers and Bethel 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%±2.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
45.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethel and Suffield 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 |
$124,705±$15k 30% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$116,541±$7kLowest 22% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$395,800±$21kLowest 8% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$434,600±$16k 18% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,184±$346Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,640±$142 10% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$8,165 23% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±13.9 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% CT: 10% |
2.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
5.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
87.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
75.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 149 in CT | #66 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #100 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Somers School District | Suffield School District | Bethel School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Somers High School | Suffield High School | Bethel High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.7Lowest |
10.9 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.