What stands out worked out from the figures below

Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).

Chester has the most renters (26.8% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Morris	Chester
People
Population	2,164Lowest	3,825Highest
Median age	52.8±6.5Lowest 28% above CT	54±3.4Highest 31% above CT
	Chester and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±4.5Highest CT: 20.2%	17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Morris and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5%	26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Morris and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%	47.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1%	4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Morris and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,191±$25k 14% above CT	$109,191±$18k 14% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,000±$60kLowest 8% above CT	$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT
	Chester and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$134Lowest 19% below CT	$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT
	Chester and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,273Lowest 21% below CT	$6,364Highest 4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±31.9Lowest CT: 52.6%	57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6%
	Chester and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest CT: 10%	11.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above CT	28 minLowest 7% above CT
Work from home	18.4%±5.7Highest CT: 16%	18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16%
	Morris 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	—	#8 of 149 in CT
School district	Regional School District 20	Chester School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.