Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs Pomfret vs Norfolk
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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Exeter | Pomfret | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
7,195Highest |
4,317 |
1,723Lowest |
| 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. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
| Washington and Norfolk 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Washington 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% 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% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest 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±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Pomfret 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. |
$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% 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±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Pomfret 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. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,065Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pomfret 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #39 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Exeter-West Greenwich | Pomfret School District | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.