Compare towns
Chester vs Niantic vs Washington
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 most affordable homes ($396k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Niantic | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Highest |
3,123Lowest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
58.4±2.7Highest 42% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% 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%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±5.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
35.4%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Niantic and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.2% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$81,250±$16kLowest 15% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Chester and Washington 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 |
$396,000±$38kLowest 8% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,478±$259 about the CT average |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% 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 |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.1%±20.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
20.8%±12.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Niantic and Washington 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 | — | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.