Compare towns
New Preston vs Washington vs Kent
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 people working from home (32.3%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Washington | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
3,676Highest |
3,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.8±12.8 26% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
| Kent 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest 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% |
26.9%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
| Washington and Kent 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$470,900±$78k 28% above CT |
| Washington and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$4,520 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Highest CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Washington and Kent 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% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| New Preston 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 | — | #17 of 149 in CT | #20 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 12 | Kent School District |
| High school in town | — | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| 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.