Compare towns
Deep River vs Suffield vs Chester vs Chester Center
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).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Chester Center has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Suffield | Chester | Chester Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
15,702Highest |
3,825 |
2,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +10.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
44.9±13.7 9% 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
17.6%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester Center 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
33.7%±5.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester Center 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±4.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chester Center and Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$89,375±$43kLowest 7% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$422,500±$48k 15% above CT |
| Chester and Chester Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,473±$358 about the CT average |
| Chester and Chester Center 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$5,867Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
49.1%±30.2Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
17.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
25 min 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
19.9%±9.2Highest CT: 16% |
| Chester Center and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Suffield School District | Chester School District | — |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Suffield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.