Compare towns
Chester vs Kent vs Bethlehem
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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k 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 | Kent | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Highest |
3,056Lowest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Kent 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% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Bethlehem 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 |
$96,064±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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 |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
$410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester 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% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Kent 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 | #20 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Kent School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.