Compare towns
Chester vs Douglas vs Sutton
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).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Douglas | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$18kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Chester and Douglas 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. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chester School District | Douglas | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.