Compare towns
Ridgefield vs Plainfield 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 people working from home (29.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Plainfield | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,109 |
15,141Lowest |
87,263Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Ridgefield and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Danbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,846±$63 24% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Danbury 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,877 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ridgefield School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District |
| High school in town | Ridgefield High School | Plainfield High School | Danbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.3Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| 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.