Compare towns

Redding vs Wilton vs Old Lyme

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 homeowners (91.6%).
Wilton has the most kids (27.3% under 18).
Old Lyme has the most affordable homes ($484k 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.

MeasureReddingWiltonOld Lyme
People
Population
8,780
18,777Highest
7,679Lowest
Median age
52±2Highest
27% above CT
43.1±1.7Lowest
5% above CT
50.6±3.3
23% above CT
Redding and Old Lyme 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%
27.3%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±3.1
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
16%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
72.1%
CT: 42.5%
75.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
56.5%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
4.6%±1.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Wilton and Redding 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
$242,199±$16kHighest
153% above CT
$131,899±$11kLowest
38% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$706,300±$33k
93% above CT
$928,800±$28kHighest
153% above CT
$484,200±$21kLowest
32% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,101±$304
41% above CT
$1,819±$438Lowest
22% above CT
$2,238±$295Highest
50% above CT
Old Lyme 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$6,284Lowest
5% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
56.6%±15.7
CT: 52.6%
51.6%±17.2Lowest
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%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
2.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
88.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
88.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1965Lowest
2 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above CT
36 min
35% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
32.5%±4.9
CT: 16%
33.8%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
24.2%±5.7Lowest
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 #6 of 149 in CT #10 of 149 in CT
School district Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Wilton School District Regional School District 18
High school in town Joel Barlow High School Wilton High School Lyme-Old Lyme High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
12.1Highest
9.6Lowest
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.