Compare towns
Hamden vs Mansfield vs Union 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 highest household income ($98k).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Manchester has the most kids (20% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Union | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
25,358 |
944Lowest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Hamden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Mansfield and Union 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
— | $1,519±$66Lowest about the CT average |
| Hamden and Mansfield 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 |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Union School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.8 |
— | 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.