Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs Roxbury vs Chester
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 people working from home (20.1%).
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Roxbury has the highest household income ($124k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($442k 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 | Roxbury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
7,195Highest |
2,185Lowest |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
54.7±1.8Highest 41% above U.S. |
54±3.4 39% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Chester 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%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Washington 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%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Roxbury 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% 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% |
5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9Lowest 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±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$123,864±$27kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130k 98% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$714,500±$77kHighest 115% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Washington 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. |
$1,713±$418Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,549±$247 10% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Chester 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. |
$6,591Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,364 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Roxbury 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Chester 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 | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Exeter-West Greenwich | Regional School District 12 | Chester 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.