Compare towns
Manchester vs West Haven vs Middletown
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).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
Middletown has the oldest population (median age 38.1).
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 | West Haven | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635Highest |
55,351 |
47,958Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±1.2 10% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
38.1±1.5Highest 7% below CT |
| Middletown 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% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest 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% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middletown 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% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and West Haven 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 |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Manchester and Middletown 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 |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT |
| Middletown and West Haven 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 |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Manchester and Middletown 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 |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest 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% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below CT |
23 min 14% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Manchester and Middletown 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | West Haven High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
15.6Highest |
11.8 |
| 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.