Compare towns
Manchester vs Willimantic vs Vernon
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 homeowners (56.9%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Vernon has the most expensive homes ($276k 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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635Highest |
18,096Lowest |
30,577 |
| 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 |
39.4±2.5Highest 4% 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% 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±$6k 33% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$275,500±$11kHighest 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
| Manchester and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652 15% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,804Highest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 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 |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | — | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | — | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.