Compare towns
Chester vs Washington vs Deep River
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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Washington | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
3,676Lowest |
4,458Highest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
| Chester and Washington 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
| Chester and Washington 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Chester 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Regional School District 12 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
9.3Highest |
| 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.