Compare towns
Manchester vs Pomfret 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 affordable homes ($247k median).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Pomfret | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635 |
4,317Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
45.9±3.7Highest 12% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Manchester 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% |
17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
$108,476±$8kHighest 13% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Pomfret and Hamden 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 |
$409,100±$28kHighest 12% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,210±$300Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$5,903 11% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below CT |
24 minHighest 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Pomfret School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | None in town | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 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.