Compare towns
Kent vs Warren vs Essex
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Warren has the highest household income ($135k).
Essex has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
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 | Warren | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,056 |
1,415Lowest |
6,794Highest |
| Median age | 55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
52±5Lowest 27% above CT |
52.4±3.6 27% above CT |
| Kent and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
11.2%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Essex and Kent 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% |
25.8%±6.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Kent and Essex 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% |
55.1% CT: 42.5% |
54.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.6%±9Highest CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Warren and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,064±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$134,583±$33kHighest 41% above CT |
$104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
| Warren and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,900±$78k 28% above CT |
$450,000±$38kLowest 23% above CT |
$552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
| Essex and Kent 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 |
— | $1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520 32% below CT |
$3,769Lowest 43% below CT |
$5,678Highest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±63.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Warren and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
78.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Kent and Essex 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 | — | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Kent School District | Regional School District 20 | Essex School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.