Compare towns

Washington vs Deep River 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 expensive homes ($660k median).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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.

MeasureWashingtonDeep RiverPutnam
People
Population
3,676Lowest
4,458
9,292Highest
Median age
49.9±5.5Highest
21% above CT
46.2±5.6
12% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
Washington and Deep River 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%
16.6%±4.7Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Washington and Putnam 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%
22.1%±4.1
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Washington and Deep River 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%
44.6%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±2.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,549±$16kHighest
6% above CT
$90,253±$19k
6% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Washington and Deep River 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
$362,200±$26k
about the CT average
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$264
19% below CT
$1,221±$185Highest
18% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
Deep River and Washington 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
$6,092Highest
8% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.1%±24Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±22.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
Deep River and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
CT: 10%
8.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
CT: 66.5%
69.2%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
4% below CT
24 minLowest
9% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
Work from home
20.1%±9Highest
CT: 16%
15.2%±5.6
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Washington and Deep River 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 #70 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 12 Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Putnam School District
High school in town Shepaug Valley School Valley Regional High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.1Lowest
9.3
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.