Compare towns
Essex vs Deep River vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Essex | Deep River | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,794Highest |
4,458 |
3,676Lowest |
| Median age | 52.4±3.6Highest 27% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Essex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,395±$7kHighest 9% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Essex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,000±$53k 50% above CT |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Washington and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,678 15% below CT |
$6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Essex 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 | #33 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Essex School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.