Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainfield vs Thompson 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%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Plainfield | Thompson | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
15,141 |
9,337Lowest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Hamden and Thompson 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Hamden and Thompson 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
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.