Compare towns
Washington vs Hampton vs Putnam vs New Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
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 | Hampton | Putnam | New Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
1,647 |
9,292Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
51.8±12.8Highest 26% above CT |
| New Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton 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 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston 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% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and New Preston 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 6% above CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$76,406±$28k 20% below CT |
| Hampton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— |
| Hampton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
| New Preston 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Hampton School District | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.