Compare towns
Pomfret vs Orange vs Washington vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Pomfret | Orange | Washington | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,317 |
14,315Highest |
3,676Lowest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Washington and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,210±$300 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 11% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Orange 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | 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 | 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.