Compare towns
Ridgefield vs Bethany vs Wilton
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 renters (16.5% rent).
Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
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 | Ridgefield | Bethany | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,109Highest |
5,288Lowest |
18,777 |
| Median age | 45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.1±1.7 5% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Lowest 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+ | 18.7%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ridgefield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.6% CT: 42.5% |
58%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
75.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Wilton 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±$20kLowest 74% above CT |
$242,199±$16kHighest 153% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,200±$26k 128% above CT |
$418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$928,800±$28kHighest 153% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
— | $1,819±$438Lowest 22% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Wilton 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 |
$8,313Lowest 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±15.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Wilton and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above CT |
32 minLowest 21% above CT |
36 minHighest 35% above CT |
| Work from home | 29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
33.8%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Wilton 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 | #6 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ridgefield School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Wilton School District |
| High school in town | Ridgefield High School | None in town | Wilton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.