Compare towns
Kent vs Bridgewater vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kent has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Bridgewater has the highest household income ($159k).
Washington has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Kent | Bridgewater | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,056 |
1,658Lowest |
3,676Highest |
| Median age | 55.8±4.3 36% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5% CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,064±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,900±$78kLowest 28% above CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$660,200±$130k 80% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,467±$233Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Bridgewater and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,869Highest 3% above CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgewater and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Kent 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 | #20 of 149 in CT | — | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Kent School District | Regional School District 12 | 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.