Compare towns
Manchester vs Vernon vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Vernon has the highest household income ($85k).
Middletown has the most expensive homes ($295k 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 | Manchester | Vernon | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,759 |
30,577Lowest |
47,958Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +19%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.3±2Lowest 9% below CT |
39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Vernon and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,267±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Vernon and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,400±$5kLowest 39% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT |
| Middletown and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,384±$66Lowest 7% below CT |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
| Middletown and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,903Lowest 26% below CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$6,412Highest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Manchester and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
12%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Middletown and Vernon 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 | #135 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Vernon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | — | Rockville High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.