Compare towns
Manchester vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Suffield | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635 |
15,702Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | Suffield High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.9Lowest |
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.