Compare towns
Chester vs Niantic vs Deep River Center
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).
Niantic has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Deep River Center has the most renters (45.2% rent).
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 | Niantic | Deep River Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Highest |
3,123 |
2,407Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+11.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
58.4±2.7Highest 42% above CT |
49±3.2Lowest 19% above CT |
| Niantic and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±5.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Deep River Center 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% |
35.4%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.6%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
48.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
45%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chester and Niantic 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 |
$81,250±$16k 15% below CT |
$71,447±$23kLowest 25% below CT |
| Chester and Niantic 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 |
$396,000±$38k 8% above CT |
$334,600±$36kLowest 9% below CT |
| Chester and Niantic 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 |
$1,478±$259 about the CT average |
$1,242±$224Lowest 17% below CT |
| Chester and Niantic 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 |
$6,311 5% below CT |
$5,194Lowest 22% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.1%±20.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.9%±23.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Niantic 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% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
54.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
20 minLowest 25% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
20.8%±12.3 CT: 16% |
22%±8.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Deep River Center and Niantic 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 | — | — |
| School district | Chester School District | — | — |
| High school 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.