Compare towns
Canton vs Chester vs Deep River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Canton | Chester | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,825Lowest |
4,458 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Lowest 10% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20kHighest 23% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
| Canton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
| Chester and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
| Chester and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$6,092Lowest 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Chester 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Chester School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.