Compare towns
Manchester vs Middletown vs Hamden
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).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Middletown | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635 |
47,958Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT |
| Hamden and Middletown 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% |
17%±1.5 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% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden 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% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 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 |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% 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 |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest 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% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #122 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | Middletown High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.