Compare towns
Chester vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Kent
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).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Kent has the most people working from home (21.5%).
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 | Plainville | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
3,056Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% 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%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5Highest 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Plainville 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
| Chester and Kent 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±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% 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 |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below 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% |
40.3%±12.4 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% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 min 20% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 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 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Kent School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.