Compare towns
Washington vs Bloomfield vs Essex
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).
Bloomfield has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
Essex has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Bloomfield | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
21,754Highest |
6,794 |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
48.4±3.3Lowest 18% above CT |
52.4±3.6Highest 27% above CT |
| Essex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Essex 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Bloomfield 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 |
$98,725±$14kLowest 3% above CT |
$104,395±$7kHighest 9% above CT |
| Essex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$286,900±$11kLowest 22% below CT |
$552,000±$53k 50% above CT |
| Washington and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,623±$326 9% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$5,678 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bloomfield and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
78.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Essex 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 | #139 of 149 in CT | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Essex School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
10.1Highest |
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| 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.