Compare towns
Chester vs Cornwall Bridge vs Deep River vs Washington
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 oldest population (median age 54).
Cornwall Bridge has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Deep River has the youngest population (median age 46.2).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Cornwall Bridge | Deep River | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
248Lowest |
4,458Highest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
50.4±11.4 23% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Chester and Cornwall Bridge 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% |
20.2%±11.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Washington 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%±11.4 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±6.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Chester 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 |
— | $90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Chester and Washington 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 |
$371,100±$64k about the CT average |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$911±$105Lowest 39% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Chester and Deep River 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 |
$4,107Lowest 38% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
89.3%±61Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% CT: 10% |
19%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.8% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
35 minHighest 31% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
19.8%±15.7 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Cornwall Bridge 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 | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Valley Regional High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.