Compare towns
Chester vs Westbrook vs Kent
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 most kids (17.5% under 18).
Westbrook has the oldest population (median age 58.2).
Kent has the most people working from home (21.5%).
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 | Westbrook | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
6,856Highest |
3,056Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Lowest 31% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
55.8±4.3 36% above CT |
| Westbrook and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Kent 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% |
41.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent 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 |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
| Chester and Kent 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 |
$434,300±$42kLowest 18% above CT |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
| Kent and Chester 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 |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
| Chester and Westbrook 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 |
$5,829 12% below CT |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Westbrook 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% |
7%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
75.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
21 min 19% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
19%±5 CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Kent and Westbrook 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 | #59 of 149 in CT | #20 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Westbrook School District | Kent School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Westbrook High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.3 |
— |
| 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.