Compare towns
Manchester vs Mansfield vs Suffield 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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Suffield | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,635Highest |
25,358 |
15,702Lowest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±1.2 10% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Middletown 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Mansfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #135 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | E. O. Smith High School | Suffield High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.