Compare towns
Washington vs Bridgewater vs Chester
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Bridgewater has the highest household income ($159k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($442k 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 | Bridgewater | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676 |
1,658Lowest |
3,825Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Chester 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% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Chester 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% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater 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±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130k 80% above CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$442,200±$25kLowest 21% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Washington 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 |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Bridgewater 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 |
$6,869Highest 3% above CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater 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 | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Regional School District 12 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | 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.