Compare towns
Deep River vs Putnam vs Killingly 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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Putnam | Killingly | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
9,292 |
17,867Highest |
3,825Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below 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%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly 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±$19k 6% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Putnam High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
9.5 |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.