Compare towns
Hamden vs Chaplin 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 most expensive homes ($298k median).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Chaplin | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
2,070Lowest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above 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 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest 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+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 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 | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$97,846±$14k 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 | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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 | 9.3% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Parish Hill High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
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.