Compare towns
Hamden vs Suffield vs Prospect 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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Suffield | Prospect | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
15,702 |
9,458Lowest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Prospect and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Suffield 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
| Prospect and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Prospect and Hamden 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Suffield School District | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Suffield High School | None in town | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— | 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.