Compare towns
Deep River vs Pomfret vs Chester vs Beacon Falls
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 most renters (30.8% rent).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Pomfret | Chester | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
4,317 |
3,825Lowest |
6,147Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
45.9±3.7Lowest 12% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% 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% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Beacon Falls 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% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Pomfret and Beacon Falls 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 |
$108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Chester and Pomfret 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 |
$409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
| Chester and Pomfret 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 |
$1,210±$300Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% 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 | $6,092 8% below CT |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret 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% |
6% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Pomfret School District | Chester School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | — | 11.2Highest |
| 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.