Compare towns
Chester vs Deep River vs Upton vs Chester Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Chester Center has the youngest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Upton | Chester Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,458 |
8,189Highest |
2,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.9±13.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Chester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Chester Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester Center 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester Center 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 35% above U.S. |
$90,253±$19k 12% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$89,375±$43kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 33% above U.S. |
$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$422,500±$48k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,473±$358 4% above U.S. |
| Chester and Chester Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 104% above U.S. |
$6,092 95% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,867Lowest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±30.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Chester Center 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.