Compare towns
Chester vs Sharon vs Suffield
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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Sharon | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
2,723Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
| Sharon 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% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Suffield 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% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon 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% CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield 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 |
$100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield 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±$25k 21% above CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$407,500±$26kLowest 11% above CT |
| Sharon and Chester 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 |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
| Sharon and Chester 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 |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Sharon and Suffield 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Sharon School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.