Compare towns
Washington vs Hardwick vs New Preston
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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Hardwick | New Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Highest |
2,684 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.8±12.8Highest 33% above U.S. |
| New Preston and Washington 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$76,406±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Washington and New Preston 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. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$452,600±$43k 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Washington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Highest 51% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,528Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.3%±28Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — |
| 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.