Compare towns
Deep River vs Lee vs Washington vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the youngest population (median age 46.2).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Chester has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Lee | Washington | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
5,719Highest |
3,676Lowest |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
54±3.4 39% above U.S. |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Lee 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 12% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26k 9% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 95% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$6,364Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #209 of 282 in MA | #17 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Lee | Regional School District 12 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Lee Middle/High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Highest |
9.2 |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.