Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Washington
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 most renters (26.8% rent).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Hampton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Highest |
1,647Lowest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Washington 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% |
26.1%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
| Chester and Hampton 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 |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
| Chester and Hampton 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | — | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Hampton School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.