Compare towns
Washington vs Sandy Hook vs Bethlehem vs Warren
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).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Warren has the oldest population (median age 52).
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 | Sandy Hook | Bethlehem | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
9,863Highest |
3,423 |
1,415Lowest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
52±5Highest 27% above CT |
| Warren and Bethlehem 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
11.2%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.8%±6.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Warren 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.6%±9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Warren 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 6% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$134,583±$33k 41% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Warren 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 |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
$450,000±$38k 23% above CT |
| Washington and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Sandy Hook and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$3,769Lowest 43% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±63.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
15.9%±2.7 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | — | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | — | 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 |
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.