Compare towns
Hamden vs Killingly vs Plainfield 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 people working from home (16.3%).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,867 |
15,141Lowest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Killingly and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Killingly 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%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest 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%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Hamden and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%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 |
1971Highest 4 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 |
27 min about the CT average |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Manchester 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 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 | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.