Compare towns
Kent vs Plainville vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kent has the most people working from home (21.5%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Chester has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Kent | Plainville | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,056Lowest |
17,551Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,064±$16k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Chester and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below CT |
21 min 20% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Kent 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 | #20 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Kent School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.