Compare towns
Washington vs Sutton vs Essex
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Essex has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Sutton | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
9,452Highest |
6,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.4±3.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Essex 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Essex 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% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$104,395±$7k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$552,000±$53k 66% above U.S. |
| Washington and Essex 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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,623±$326Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Essex and Washington 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,678 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±9.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Sutton | Essex School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.