Compare towns
Washington vs Ware vs New Milford
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
New Milford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Ware | New Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
10,048 |
28,334Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42.1±1.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Washington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Milford and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and New Milford 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$106,411±$8kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| New Milford and Washington 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$391,500±$10k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,609±$152Highest 14% above U.S. |
| New Milford 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,150Highest 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and New Milford 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and New Milford 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #110 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Ware | New Milford School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | New Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.1 |
11.7Highest |
| 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.