Quiet country living in Fairfield County
The rural town of Redding is often called the “Vermont within 60 miles of New York City.” More than a quarter of the town’s land is preserved open space, from lush fields to forests of white oaks, maples and beech trees. “Redding has basically no town center. It’s a large town as far as square mileage goes, but it’s not very populated,” says Debbie Gore, a current resident and Coldwell Banker Realtor with nearly three decades of experience. “People move here for the land. It’s just a classy, country town,” she says.
Single-family homes with spacious properties
The median sale price for these Colonial Revivals, New Traditionals, Craftsmans and farmhouses is $915,000. “You get more privacy. Country homes with lots of land. People move here because there are no condos, and you get more land for the price than in Ridgefield,” Gore says. Minimal Traditional cottages on less than 2 acres typically sell for under $400,000, while large center hall Colonial Revivals on more than 10 acres can sell for nearly $4 million. The Saugatuck Reservoir rarely floods, but creeks and ponds nearby are prone to flooding. Connecticut’s snow season usually lasts between November and April.
Highly rated Easton, Redding, Region 9 schools
Redding School District earns an A-minus from Niche. The small district has two schools: A-rated Redding Elementary and A-minus-rated John Read Middle, which gets an A-minus. As part of the Easton, Redding, Region 9 system, Redding School District students go to Joel Barlow High for ninth through 12th grades. The high school, which gets an A-minus from Niche, offers dual enrollment classes in partnership with Housatonic Community College, Norwalk Community College, Sacred Heart University and Southern Connecticut State University. Courses are available online and in person; all four college campuses are within about 35 miles of most homes.
Indoor/outdoor recreation in Redding
Redding Community Center has a gymnasium and senior center, along with outdoor recreational amenities like tennis courts and ball fields. Every winter, part of the parking lot becomes an ice rink for the season. The rec center hosts events like Lyrics Coffeehouse, a monthly indoor music series. An outdoor extension of the series, called the Summer Acoustic Music Series, is held at Topstone Park. The 280-acre park has a lake with a sandy, swimmable beach and public boat launches. Lifeguards are on staff seasonally. Connecticut's oldest park, Putnam Memorial State Park, is a few miles north. The historic area was a Revolutionary War encampment. Today, the site features a walking trail, pond fishing and picnic areas. The Redding Country Club, nearby, has a private, 18-hole golf course.
Georgetown area shopping and dining options
There are a couple of restaurants scattered around the community, including The Redding Roadhouse, an upscale American eatery that blends Southern and New England cuisines. Oliver’s Deli & Pizza is a popular diner-style spot on the northwest side of town. Gore says most residents head to the Georgetown area for a historic downtown type of shopping and dining experience. “It’s a little hamlet with a really great grocery store, not one of the big chains, and a few great restaurants,” she says. The grocer in question is Caraluzzi’s, a small regional chain. The Georgetown location is down Redding Road from dining options like Wire Mill Saloon & Barbecue and Rancho Alegre, known for classic Mexican fare.
Travelling by car/train around Connecticut and to New York
State Road 107 connects to Ridgefield. State Road 53 runs to Danbury. Big regional employers in both cities, including Nuvance Health’s Danbury Hospital and Boehringer Ingelheim, a global pharmaceutical company, are within about 15 miles of most homes. Metro-North Railroad’s Redding station provides commuter rail service to Ridgefield and Danbury. Routes also run to Norwalk and several stations in New York City. Manhattan is just over 60 miles away.
