Compare towns
Manchester vs Hamden vs Vernon
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).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% 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 | Hamden | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635 |
61,045Highest |
30,577Lowest |
| Median age | 37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
| Vernon 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% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$85,356±$6kLowest 11% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest 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% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Lowest 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 | #135 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | Hamden High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.