Compare towns
Ridgefield vs Bethany vs Redding vs Danbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Redding has the oldest population (median age 52).
Danbury has the most renters (46.2% 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 | Ridgefield | Bethany | Redding | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,109 |
5,288Lowest |
8,780 |
87,263Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
40.6±1.3Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Danbury and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
$166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$83,393±$6kLowest 13% below 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 | $836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$411,200±$12kLowest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,026±$200 36% above CT |
— | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,846±$63Lowest 24% 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 |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,877Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8 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 | 3.5% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
30 minLowest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 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 | #4 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ridgefield School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District |
| High school in town | Ridgefield High School | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | Danbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| 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.