Compare towns
Washington vs Derby vs Brooklyn
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).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Derby | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
12,487Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
| Washington and Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Derby 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% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Washington and Brooklyn 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Derby 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 |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Derby School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
9.7Highest |
— |
| 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.