Compare towns
Wilton vs Redding vs Putnam 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).
Redding has the oldest population (median age 52).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.
| Measure | Wilton | Redding | Putnam | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,777 |
8,780Lowest |
9,292 |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7Lowest 5% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Wilton and Ridgefield 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 |
$186,060±$15k 94% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $928,800±$28kHighest 153% above CT |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$836,200±$26k 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,819±$438 22% above CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,026±$200 36% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±15.7 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Wilton 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Wilton and Redding 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 | #14 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wilton School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Putnam School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Wilton High School | Joel Barlow High School | Putnam High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.1 |
9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.