Compare towns
Chester vs Lyme vs Sutton vs Deep River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Lyme | Sutton | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
2,303Lowest |
9,452Highest |
4,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54±3.4 39% above U.S. |
55.6±3.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Sutton 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 35% above U.S. |
$135,000±$22k 67% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
$629,900±$105kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 10% above U.S. |
$1,719±$1kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 104% above U.S. |
$7,328Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,092Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Regional School District 18 | Sutton | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.