What are the schools like in Chester Center, CT?

Chester Center is served primarily by Chester School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.8:1.

What is the median household income in Chester Center?

The median household income in Chester Center, CT is $73,611 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Chester Center, CT?

Chester Center has an average high temperature of 37.0°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.8 inches.

Chester Center, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Chester Center, CT affordable or expensive?

Chester Center's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chester Center is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $387,800 and the median rent is $1,386 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chester Center, CT?

Chester Center has a violent crime rate of 26.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 586.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chester Center, CT a Good Place to Live?

Chester Center is a small town of 1,729 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $73,611 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Chester Center stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Chester Center is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Chester Center city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.9

Chester Center's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chester Center costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Chester Center, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$387,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,386	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,611	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chester Center's violent crime rate is 26.5 per 100,000 residents — 93% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

26.5 /100k

Property Crime

586.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Chester Center is served primarily by Chester School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chester Center, CT	National Avg
School District	Chester School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chester Center sees average highs of 37.0°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 52.0 inches of annual precipitation and 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chester Center, CT
Average High — January	37.0°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	52.0"
Annual Snowfall	27.8"

Demographics

Metric	Chester Center, CT	National Avg
Population	1,729	—
Median Age	49.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	17.0%	22.2%
65 and over	32.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Deep River Center, CT 2 mi Essex Village, CT 5 mi Moodus, CT 7 mi Higganum, CT 8 mi Westbrook Center, CT 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Chester Center

Chester Center, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

06412

Chester Center vs Other Cities

Chester Center, CT vs Deep River Center, CT Chester Center, CT vs Essex Village, CT Chester Center, CT vs Moodus, CT Chester Center, CT vs Higganum, CT Chester Center, CT vs Westbrook Center, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chester Center, CT affordable or expensive?

Chester Center's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Chester Center roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $387,800 and median rent is $1,386/month.

What is the crime rate in Chester Center, CT?

Chester Center's violent crime rate is 26.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 586.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chester Center?

Public schools in Chester Center are operated by Chester School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.8:1. 35.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chester Center, CT a good place to live?

Chester Center, CT has a population of 1,729, a median household income of $73,611, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Chester Center?

Chester Center averages 37.0°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.0 inches with about 27.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chester Center?

Chester Center, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 06412.

What is the population of Chester Center?

The population of Chester Center, Connecticut is 1,729 with a median age of 49.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chester Center?

Key numbers for living in Chester Center: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $387,800, median household income $73,611, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chester Center side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.