Compare towns
Chester vs Windsor Locks 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 most expensive homes ($442k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Deep River has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Lowest |
12,579Highest |
4,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
| Chester and Deep River 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
| Chester and Windsor Locks 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chester and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.