Compare towns
Prospect vs Stepney vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Stepney has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Prospect | Stepney | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458 |
3,979Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
44.9±1.4Lowest 9% above CT |
| Stepney and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18kLowest 32% above CT |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
| Stepney and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Stepney and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,398±$116Lowest 6% below CT |
| Stepney and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$7,755 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 149 in CT | — | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | — | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.

