What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).

Redding has the most affordable homes ($706k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ridgefield	Redding
People
Population	25,109Highest	8,780Lowest
Median age	45.1±1.4Lowest 10% above CT	52±2Highest 27% above CT
Kids under 18	24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2%	19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5%	26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.6%Highest CT: 42.5%	72.1%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%	3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Ridgefield and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$179,219±$12kLowest 87% above CT	$186,060±$15kHighest 94% 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	$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT	$706,300±$33kLowest 93% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,026±$200Lowest 36% above CT	$2,101±$304Highest 41% 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+ at least 51% above CT	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±12Lowest CT: 52.6%	64.9%±19.3Highest 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%Lowest CT: 10%	4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	91.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 5 yrs newer than CT	1972 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above CT	36 minHighest 36% above CT
Work from home	29.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16%	32.5%±4.9Highest 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	#14 of 149 in CT
School district	Ridgefield School District	Redding School District · Regional School District 09
High school in town	Ridgefield High School	Joel Barlow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.