Compare towns
Wilton vs Plainfield vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has the highest household income ($242k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ridgefield has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Wilton | Plainfield | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,777 |
15,141Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 5% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.1±1.4Highest 10% 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 | 27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3 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+ | 16%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ridgefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $242,199±$16kHighest 153% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $928,800±$28kHighest 153% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$836,200±$26k 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,819±$438 22% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±15.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 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 | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 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 | #6 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wilton School District | Plainfield School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Wilton High School | Plainfield High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.