Compare towns
Deep River vs Canton vs Beacon Falls vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Canton has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Deep River | Canton | Beacon Falls | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
10,144Highest |
6,147 |
3,825Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
45.3±5.2Lowest 10% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| Chester and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$117,991±$20kHighest 23% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Canton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092Lowest 8% below CT |
$7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$6,364 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Canton and Beacon Falls 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Canton School District | Regional School District 16 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Canton High School | Woodland Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
9.6 |
11.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.