Compare towns

Manchester vs Putnam vs Danielson

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 people working from home (14.3%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureManchesterPutnamDanielson
People
Population
59,635Highest
9,292
4,209Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.6%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
37±1.2
10% below CT
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
34.5±3.6Lowest
16% below CT
Kids under 18
20%±1.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±6.1
CT: 20.2%
Manchester and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±1.2
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
13.6%±4.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Putnam 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%
20%
CT: 42.5%
11.5%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±0.7
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
9.2%±6.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
Danielson and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,840±$4kHighest
9% below CT
$70,561±$7k
26% below CT
$64,050±$15kLowest
33% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$247,100±$6k
33% below CT
$269,200±$11kHighest
27% below CT
$224,600±$13kLowest
39% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,519±$66Highest
about the CT average
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,235±$194
17% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,652Highest
15% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$4,009
40% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.1%±6.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44.7%±17.1
CT: 52.6%
Manchester and Danielson 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%
11.5%
CT: 10%
21.1%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.9%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Highest
CT: 66.5%
53%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962Highest
5 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1951Lowest
16 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
28 minHighest
7% above CT
Work from home
14.3%±1.9Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
6.6%±5.3Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #135 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District Putnam School District —
High school in town Manchester High School Putnam High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
9.5Lowest
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On TownTapestry
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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.