Compare towns
Manchester vs Chaplin vs Hamden 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 kids (20% under 18).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Chaplin | Hamden | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,635 |
2,070Lowest |
61,045Highest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Chaplin and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest 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+ | 15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652 15% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 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 | 10.8% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #135 of 149 in CT | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | Parish Hill High School | Hamden High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.8 |
| 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.