Compare towns
Canton vs Chester vs Middlebury
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).
Middlebury has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,825Lowest |
7,807 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
44.4±2.3Lowest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Middlebury 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% |
22.7%±4.2Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlebury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$109,191±$18kLowest 14% above CT |
$133,487±$26kHighest 39% above CT |
| Middlebury and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24kLowest 8% above CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
| Middlebury and Chester 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 |
$398±$387Lowest 73% 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 | $7,232 9% above CT |
$6,364Lowest 4% below CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Chester 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% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest 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 | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Chester School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.