Compare towns
Warren vs Sandy Hook vs Washington vs New Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most affordable homes ($450k median).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
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 | Warren | Sandy Hook | Washington | New Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,415 |
9,863Highest |
3,676 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 52±5Highest 27% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
51.8±12.8 26% above CT |
| Warren and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.6%±9Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Warren and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,583±$33k 41% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,000±$38kLowest 23% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
| Washington and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Sandy Hook and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,769 43% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±63.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Warren and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% CT: 10% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Sandy Hook 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 | Regional School District 20 | — | 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 | 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.