Compare towns
Manchester vs Willimantic vs Hamden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Hamden has the most expensive homes ($298k 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 | Willimantic | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635 |
18,096Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±1.2 10% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT |
| Hamden 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Manchester 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652 15% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Manchester 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | — | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.