Compare towns
Hamden vs Killingly vs Avon 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).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
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.
| Measure | Hamden | Killingly | Avon | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,867Lowest |
18,946 |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.3±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Avon and Manchester 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Avon and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$154,058±$13kHighest 61% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$479,700±$20kHighest 31% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,857±$151Highest 25% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Avon and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Avon 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
85.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer 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 |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | Avon High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.7 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.