Compare towns
Washington vs Thomaston vs Killingly vs Essex
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).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Killingly | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
7,492 |
17,867Highest |
6,794 |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
52.4±3.6Highest 27% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$16k 6% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$104,395±$7kHighest 9% above CT |
| Essex and Thomaston 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 |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$552,000±$53k 50% above CT |
| 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 19% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
| Essex 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 |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,678 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
78.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Essex 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Essex School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
10.7 |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.