Compare towns
Chester vs Salisbury vs Kent
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 affordable homes ($442k median).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Kent has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,224Highest |
3,056Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
44.2±9.9Lowest 8% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
| Kent 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% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest 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%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
28.1%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Kent 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent 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±$18k 14% above CT |
$124,256±$26kHighest 30% above CT |
$96,064±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kLowest 21% above CT |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
$470,900±$78k 28% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
| Salisbury and Chester 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 |
$5,125 23% below CT |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
68.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
20 minLowest 25% below CT |
20 min 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
28%±8Highest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Salisbury and Kent 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 | #20 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Salisbury School District | Kent School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.