Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hamden vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Hamden has the most expensive homes ($298k median).
Manchester has the most kids (20% 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 | Chaplin | Hamden | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
61,045Highest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Chaplin and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Hamden 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Hamden High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.