Compare towns
Chester vs Deep River vs Middlefield vs Lyme
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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Deep River has the youngest population (median age 46.2).
Middlefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Middlefield | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,458Highest |
4,243 |
2,303Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| Lyme 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% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme 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% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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±$18k 14% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
| Lyme and Chester 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 |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 4% below CT |
$6,092Lowest 8% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield 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%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Lyme 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.