Compare towns

Chester vs Windsor Locks 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 highest household income ($109k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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.

MeasureChesterWindsor LocksKent
People
Population
3,825
12,579Highest
3,056Lowest
Median age
54±3.4
31% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
55.8±4.3Highest
36% above CT
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
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
12.2%±3.4Lowest
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%±4
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
30.6%±6.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
Kent 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%
28.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
55.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
7.2%±3.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Kent and Windsor Locks 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
$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
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below 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
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$688±$205Lowest
54% 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
$4,520
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.4%±22.1
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
11.5%±11.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks 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%
10.9%
CT: 10%
9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
70.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
2 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
7% above CT
22 min
17% below CT
20 minLowest
23% below CT
Work from home
18.3%±5.6
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
21.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
Kent 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 #109 of 149 in CT #20 of 149 in CT
School district Chester School District Windsor Locks School District Kent School District
High school in town None in town Windsor Locks High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9
—
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.