Compare towns
Chester vs Sutton vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Sutton | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Lowest |
9,452Highest |
6,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.4±3.6 35% above U.S. |
| Chester and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Essex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex 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 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$104,395±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 33% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$552,000±$53kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Essex and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 10% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,623±$326Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Essex and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 104% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,678Lowest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±9.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Essex 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Sutton | Essex School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.