Compare towns
Chester vs Sprague vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Chester | Sprague | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Highest |
2,962Lowest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
48.5±10.7Lowest 18% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$92,850±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
| Chester and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Sprague School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.