Compare towns
Washington vs Brooklyn vs Putnam vs Bethlehem
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).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Brooklyn | Putnam | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
8,517 |
9,292Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem 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% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Brooklyn 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 |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem 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 |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% 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 |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Brooklyn 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% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Bethlehem 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
— |
| 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.