Compare towns
New Preston vs Cornwall vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Preston has the most affordable homes ($453k median).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | New Preston | Cornwall | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
1,425 |
3,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.8±12.8 26% above CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
| Cornwall and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Cornwall and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$43kLowest 23% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Washington and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Washington and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$5,792Highest 13% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.3%±28 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and New Preston 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 | — | — | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Cornwall School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school 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.