What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danbury has the most expensive homes ($411k median).

Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danbury	Manchester
People
Population	87,263Highest	59,635Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average	37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2%	20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%
	Manchester and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5%	15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Danbury and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest CT: 42.5%	40.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1%	5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,393±$6kLowest 13% below CT	$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT
	Manchester and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$411,200±$12kHighest 12% above CT	$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT	$1,519±$66Lowest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,877Highest 12% below CT	$5,652Lowest 15% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±4.8Highest CT: 52.6%	48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Danbury and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Highest CT: 10%	10.8%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	56.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT	1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above CT	23 minLowest 15% below CT
Work from home	12.7%±1.8Lowest CT: 16%	14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16%
	Manchester and Danbury 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	#137 of 149 in CT	#135 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District
High school in town	Danbury High School	Manchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.7Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.