Compare towns

Redding vs Stepney 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).
Stepney has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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.

MeasureReddingStepneyRidgefield
People
Population
8,780
3,979Lowest
25,109Highest
Median age
52±2Highest
27% above CT
47.1±5.6
15% above CT
45.1±1.4Lowest
10% above CT
Redding and Stepney 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%
21.1%±5.6
CT: 20.2%
24.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
Ridgefield and Stepney 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%
17.7%±4.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.7%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
72.1%
CT: 42.5%
54.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
72.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±5.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.5%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Stepney 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
$153,966±$16kLowest
61% above 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
$475,800±$53kLowest
30% above CT
$836,200±$26kHighest
128% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,101±$304
41% above CT
$2,750±$1kHighest
85% above CT
$2,026±$200Lowest
36% above CT
Stepney 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
$9,309Lowest
40% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
63.2%±48.8
CT: 52.6%
53.3%±12Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Highest
CT: 10%
0.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
3.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
96.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
83.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
5 yrs newer than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1972Lowest
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
36% above CT
37 minHighest
41% above CT
33 minLowest
25% above CT
Work from home
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
9.8%±4.3Lowest
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 — #4 of 149 in CT
School district Redding School District · Regional School District 09 — Ridgefield School District
High school in town Joel Barlow High School — Ridgefield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
11.4Highest
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.