Compare towns
Manchester vs Vernon vs West Haven
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).
Vernon has the oldest population (median age 39.4).
West Haven has the most expensive homes ($292k 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.
| Measure | Manchester | Vernon | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635Highest |
30,577Lowest |
55,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±1.2 10% below CT |
39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Vernon and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and West Haven 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% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Manchester and Vernon 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 |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
| West Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Manchester and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Manchester 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% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Manchester and Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Vernon School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | Rockville High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1 |
15.6Highest |
| 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.