Compare towns
Hamden vs Bloomfield vs Middletown vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Bloomfield has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Hamden | Bloomfield | Middletown | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
21,754Lowest |
47,958 |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 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+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$98,725±$14kHighest 3% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$286,900±$11k 22% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Hamden and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Bloomfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,795 13% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bloomfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
71.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield 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 | #139 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Middletown High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.8 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.