Compare towns
Sharon vs Westbrook vs Cornwall 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).
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Westbrook | Cornwall | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,723 |
6,856Highest |
1,425Lowest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
58.2±3.7 42% above CT |
53.9±5.1Lowest 31% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
| Sharon and Westbrook 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% |
9.6%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Cornwall 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% |
36%±5.5 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% CT: 42.5% |
41.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cornwall 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±$15k 5% above CT |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$434,300±$42kLowest 18% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Sharon and Cornwall 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 |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% 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 |
$5,829 12% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Lowest 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% |
7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
19%±5 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Westbrook 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 | — | #59 of 149 in CT | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Westbrook School District | Cornwall School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.3 |
— | — |
| 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.