Compare towns
Chester vs Deep River vs Plainfield 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).
Deep River has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Kent has the most people working from home (21.5%).
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 | Plainfield | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,458 |
15,141Highest |
3,056Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below 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% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$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 |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below 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 |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,520 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Kent 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #20 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Plainfield School District | Kent School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.