Compare towns
Oronoque vs Kent vs Sharon vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oronoque has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Kent has the most people working from home (21.5%).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Chester has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Oronoque | Kent | Sharon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,116Highest |
3,056 |
2,723Lowest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 66.6±1.6Highest 62% above CT |
55.8±4.3 36% above CT |
59.5±6 45% above CT |
54±3.4Lowest 31% above CT |
| Oronoque and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 53.8%±7.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Oronoque and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Oronoque and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,417±$5kLowest 24% below CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Chester and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,600±$26kLowest 3% below CT |
$470,900±$78k 28% above CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Sharon and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,278±$352Highest 53% above CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Oronoque and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,787Highest about the CT average |
$4,520 32% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 84.6%±20.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Oronoque and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±11.7 CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Kent and Oronoque 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 | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Kent School District | Sharon School District | Chester 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 | 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.