Compare towns
Chester vs Killingly vs Lyme vs Kent
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Killingly | Lyme | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
17,867Highest |
2,303Lowest |
3,056 |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% 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%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest 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%±4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent 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±$18k 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
| 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±$25k 21% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$470,900±$78k 28% 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 |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$4,520 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | — | #20 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 18 | Kent School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.