Compare towns
Washington vs Windham vs Hampton vs New Preston
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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
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 | Windham | Hampton | New Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
23,961Highest |
1,647 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
51.8±12.8Highest 26% above CT |
| New Preston and Hampton 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Washington 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,406±$28k 20% below CT |
| Hampton 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 80% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
— |
| Hampton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
15.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
| New Preston 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hampton School District | — |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.