Compare towns
Chester vs Deep River vs Killingly vs Putnam
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).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825Lowest |
4,458 |
17,867Highest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
| 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Chester and Deep River 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% 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 |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest 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% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | 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.