Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs New Milford
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).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
New Milford has the most affordable homes ($392k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Exeter | New Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
7,195 |
28,334Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.1±1.9 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Milford and Exeter 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% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Washington 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 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$106,411±$8k 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and New Milford 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. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$391,500±$10kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Washington and Exeter 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. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,609±$152Highest 14% above U.S. |
| New Milford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$6,150Highest 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #110 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Exeter-West Greenwich | New Milford School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | New Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.