Compare towns
Westbrook vs Old Saybrook 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).
Old Saybrook has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Old Saybrook | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,856 |
10,575Highest |
3,825Lowest |
| Median age | 58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
57.4±1.9 40% above CT |
54±3.4Lowest 31% above CT |
| Westbrook and Old Saybrook 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% |
13.7%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Old Saybrook 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% |
30.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Old Saybrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chester and Westbrook 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 |
$114,333±$17kHighest 19% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Old Saybrook and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,300±$42kLowest 18% above CT |
$538,200±$49kHighest 47% above CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$176Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,846±$325Highest 24% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Old Saybrook and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829 12% below CT |
$5,272Lowest 21% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±17.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.7%±37.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Old Saybrook and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% CT: 10% |
5%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% CT: 66.5% |
85.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 19%±5 CT: 16% |
26.2%±5.8Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Old Saybrook 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 | #72 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Westbrook School District | Old Saybrook School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Old Saybrook Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.3Lowest |
8.2Highest |
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| 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.