Compare towns
Washington vs Bethany vs Putnam
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 people working from home (20.1%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Washington | Bethany | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
5,288 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Washington and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Washington 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Bethany 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.