Compare towns
Mansfield vs Monroe vs Stepney vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Monroe | Stepney | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358 |
18,949 |
3,979Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Stepney and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Stepney and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Monroe and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Monroe and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Stepney and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 14% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Monroe School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Masuk High School | — | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.