Compare towns
Sharon vs Suffield vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Sharon | Suffield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,723Lowest |
15,702Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Suffield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$407,500±$26kLowest 11% above CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,364 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sharon and Suffield 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Suffield School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.