Compare towns
Washington vs Douglas vs Plainfield vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Goshen has the most homeowners (88.3%).
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 | Douglas | Plainfield | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
9,207 |
15,141Highest |
3,196Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
51.4±3.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Goshen 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Plainfield 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 26% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$152,093±$27k 88% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$482,400±$71k 45% above U.S. |
| Washington and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,250±$724 12% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 51% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,292 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Douglas | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Douglas High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
7.2Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.