Compare towns
Chester vs Sutton vs Lyme
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 renters (26.8% rent).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
9,452Highest |
2,303Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54±3.4 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.6±3.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$135,000±$22k 67% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lyme 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. |
$629,900±$105kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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. |
$1,719±$1kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Lowest 104% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,328Highest 135% 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% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Sutton 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 | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Sutton | Regional School District 18 |
| 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.