What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the most expensive homes ($298k median).

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.

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

Measure	Hamden	Manchester
People
Population	61,045Highest	59,635Lowest
Median age	38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT	37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT
	Hamden and Manchester 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%	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%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%	15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest CT: 42.5%	40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%	5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average	$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT	$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT	$1,519±$66Lowest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,784Highest 17% above CT	$5,652Lowest 15% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6%	48.1%±6.1Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10%	10.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT	1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below CT	23 minHighest 15% below CT
Work from home	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%	14.3%±1.9Lowest 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	#135 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District
High school in town	Hamden High School	Manchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	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.