Compare towns
Washington vs Killingly vs Sutton 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 expensive homes ($660k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Killingly | Sutton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,452 |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chester 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Sutton 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Chester 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Killingly 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Chester 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Washington and Sutton 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. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 51% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,364 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Sutton 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sutton | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Killingly High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.1 |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.