Compare towns
Westbrook vs Middlefield vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
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 | Westbrook | Middlefield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,856Highest |
4,243 |
3,825Lowest |
| Median age | 58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
51.6±1.9Lowest 26% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
| Westbrook and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Chester and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,300±$42k 18% above CT |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$176Lowest 4% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829Lowest 12% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±17.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Westbrook 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 | #59 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Westbrook School District | Regional School District 13 | Chester School District |
| High school 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 |
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.