Compare towns
Deep River vs Thompson vs Chester vs Lyme
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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Chester has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Thompson | Chester | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
9,337Highest |
3,825 |
2,303Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| Lyme and Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Deep River 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% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
| Lyme 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±$26k about the CT average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
| Lyme 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Lyme 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Thompson School District | Chester School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.