Compare towns
Chester vs Essex vs Killingly
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).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Essex | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Lowest |
6,794 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
52.4±3.6 27% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
| Chester and Essex 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% |
16.2%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly 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% |
26.4%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Essex 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% |
54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Killingly 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 |
$104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
| Chester and Essex 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 |
$552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Essex and Chester 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 |
$5,678 15% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Killingly 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
78.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
27 minLowest 3% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Essex 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 | #33 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Essex School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.