Compare towns
Chester vs Upton vs Kent vs Washington
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).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Upton | Kent | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
8,189Highest |
3,056Lowest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54±3.4 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
55.8±4.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Washington 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kent and Washington 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kent and Washington 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$96,064±$16kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$470,900±$78k 42% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$688±$205Lowest 51% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
| Chester and Washington 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,520Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #20 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Kent School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.