Compare towns
Chester vs Deep River vs Franklin vs Killingly
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 most expensive homes ($442k median).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Deep River | Franklin | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,458 |
2,004Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below 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 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Franklin 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±$19k 6% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
| Chester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% 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 |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 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% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Chester and Deep River 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Franklin School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.