What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).

Durham has the highest household income ($152k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Washington	Durham
People
Population	3,676Highest	3,347Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+28.6% CT: +0.9%
Median age	49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT	47.9±5.4Lowest 17% above CT
	Washington and Durham 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%	15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Washington and Durham 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%	19.1%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Washington and Durham 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%	42.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1%	4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Washington and Durham 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	$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT	$401,700±$32kLowest 9% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT	$1,625±$1kHighest 9% above CT
	Durham and Washington 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	$7,107Highest 7% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6%	57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6%
	Durham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest CT: 10%	6.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest CT: 66.5%	90%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT	1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% below CT	24 minLowest 10% below CT
Work from home	20.1%±9Highest CT: 16%	20%±6.7Lowest CT: 16%
	Washington and Durham 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	#88 of 149 in CT
School district	Regional School District 12	—
High school in town	Shepaug Valley School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.