Compare towns
Deep River vs Cornwall vs Mansfield vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Chester has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Cornwall | Mansfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
1,425Lowest |
25,358Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| Chester and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
| Cornwall and Chester 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% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% below CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Cornwall and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Mansfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 8% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Mansfield 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Cornwall School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.