Compare towns
Washington vs Bethany 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
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Washington | Bethany | New Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676 |
5,288Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
51.8±12.8Highest 26% above CT |
| New Preston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 53.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Washington and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Washington 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | — |
| 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.