Compare towns
Chester vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Deep River
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 expensive homes ($442k median).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 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 | Sterling | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
4,458 |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
| Chester and Deep River 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%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
| Chester and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
| Chester and Deep River 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Chester and Deep River 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.