Compare towns
Chester vs Chaplin vs Deep River vs Kent
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the highest household income ($109k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Deep River has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Kent has the most people working from home (21.5%).
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 | Chester | Chaplin | Deep River | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
2,070Lowest |
4,458Highest |
3,056 |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
| Chester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
| Chester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Kent 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | — | #70 of 149 in CT | #20 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Kent School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— |
| 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.