Compare towns
Chester vs Salisbury vs Deep River vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lyme has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Salisbury | Deep River | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,224 |
4,458Highest |
2,303Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
44.2±9.9Lowest 8% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±6.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
28.1%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Salisbury 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% |
58.8% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chester and Deep River 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 14% above CT |
$124,256±$26k 30% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
| Lyme and Salisbury 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 |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
| Salisbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
$1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
| Salisbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 4% below CT |
$5,125Lowest 23% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 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% |
4.2% CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
68.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
69.2% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
20 minLowest 25% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
28%±8Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
| Salisbury and Lyme 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 | #19 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Salisbury School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.