Compare towns
Deep River vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Killingly | Plainville | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
3,825Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% 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 | 16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Chester 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest 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+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above 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 | $362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Deep River 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
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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.