Compare towns

Deep River vs Colebrook 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).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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.

MeasureDeep RiverColebrookChester
People
Population
4,458Highest
1,494Lowest
3,825
Median age
46.2±5.6Lowest
12% above CT
52.1±5
27% above CT
54±3.4Highest
31% above CT
Chester and Colebrook 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%
17.9%±3.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
17.5%±4.9
CT: 20.2%
Colebrook and Chester 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%
26%±4.2
CT: 18.5%
26.8%±4Highest
CT: 18.5%
Chester and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.6%
CT: 42.5%
36.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
4%±2.9
CT: 7.1%
Colebrook 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
$111,250±$17kHighest
16% above CT
$109,191±$18k
14% above CT
Colebrook 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
$342,800±$19kLowest
7% below CT
$442,200±$25kHighest
21% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$185Lowest
18% below CT
$1,333±$626
10% below CT
$1,549±$247Highest
4% above CT
Chester and Colebrook 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
$6,211
7% below CT
$6,364Highest
4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±22.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.4%±22.1
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
8.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
11.8%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.2%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1969
2 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below CT
34 minHighest
29% above CT
28 min
7% above CT
Work from home
15.2%±5.6
CT: 16%
7%±3.8Lowest
CT: 16%
18.3%±5.6Highest
CT: 16%
Chester and Deep River 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 — #8 of 149 in CT
School district Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Colebrook School District Chester School District
High school in town Valley Regional High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3
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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.