Compare towns
Chester vs Kent vs Lyme
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k 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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Highest |
3,056 |
2,303Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Lowest 31% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
| Kent and Lyme 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% |
13.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent 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±$18k 14% above CT |
$96,064±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
| Lyme 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±$25kLowest 21% above CT |
$470,900±$78k 28% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
| Lyme and Kent 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 |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
| Lyme 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 |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Lyme 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% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Kent 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 | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Kent School District | Regional School District 18 |
| 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.