Compare towns
Manchester vs Redding 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).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Redding | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635 |
8,780Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Redding 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66Lowest about the CT average |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% 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 |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #135 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | Joel Barlow High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
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.