Compare towns
Manchester vs Windham vs Hamden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most renters (52.6% 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 | Windham | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,635 |
23,961Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 37±1.2 10% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652 15% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 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 · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | Windham High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.8Lowest |
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.