Compare towns
Chester vs Suffield vs Chester 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 oldest population (median age 54).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Chester Center has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Suffield | Chester Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
15,702Highest |
2,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +10.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
44.9±13.7 9% above CT |
| Chester and Chester Center 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.6%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester Center 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
33.7%±5.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester Center 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±4.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chester Center and Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$89,375±$43kLowest 7% below 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±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$407,500±$26kLowest 11% above CT |
$422,500±$48k 15% above CT |
| Chester and Chester Center 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 |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,473±$358 about the CT average |
| Chester and Chester Center 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,867Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
49.1%±30.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
17.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
25 minLowest 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
19.9%±9.2Highest CT: 16% |
| Chester Center 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 | Suffield School District | — |
| High school 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.