What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has the most kids (20% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Manchester	Middletown
People
Population	59,635Highest	47,958Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT	38.1±1.5Highest 7% below CT
	Middletown and Manchester 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%	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	16.5%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Middletown and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Highest CT: 42.5%	40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT	$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT
	Manchester and Middletown 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	$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average	$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average
	Manchester and Middletown 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	$6,412Highest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±6.1Highest CT: 52.6%	47.7%±5.3Lowest 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	10.8%Lowest CT: 10%	12%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below CT	23 minHighest 12% below CT
Work from home	14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16%	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Manchester and Middletown 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	#121 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town	Manchester High School	Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.