Compare towns
Deep River vs Salisbury 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 most affordable homes ($362k median).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Salisbury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,458Highest |
4,224 |
3,825Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
44.2±9.9Lowest 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%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±6.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Salisbury 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 CT: 18.5% |
28.1%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
| Salisbury 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% |
58.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chester and Deep River 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 |
$124,256±$26kHighest 30% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Salisbury 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±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$5,125Lowest 23% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest 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% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
68.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
20 minLowest 25% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
28%±8Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Salisbury 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 | #19 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Salisbury School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.