Compare towns
Chester vs Collinsville 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).
Collinsville has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 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 | Chester | Collinsville | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
3,963Highest |
3,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
49.4±11.4Lowest 20% 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%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±5.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Collinsville and Chester 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% |
25.6%±7Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57%Highest CT: 42.5% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±3 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Collinsville 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 |
$94,815±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
| Chester and Kent 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 |
$395,500±$42kLowest 8% above CT |
$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 |
$1,455±$322 about the CT average |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
| Chester and Collinsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 4% below CT |
$7,349Highest 11% above CT |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
64%±36.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Collinsville 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% |
7.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.7%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 |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
24.5%±10.7Highest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Collinsville and Kent 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 | — | #20 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Kent School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.