Compare towns
Chester vs Enfield vs Suffield
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 oldest population (median age 54).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Enfield | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Lowest |
41,090Highest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
40.7±1.9Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Enfield and Chester 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% |
18%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
31.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield and Enfield 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 |
$90,404±$5kLowest 6% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield 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±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$252,900±$7kLowest 31% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Chester and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,574±$83Highest 6% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
| Enfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 4% below CT |
$5,360Lowest 19% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.7%±6.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Suffield 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
14.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #123 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Enfield High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.