Compare towns
Mansfield vs Sutton vs Hamden vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Sutton | Hamden | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358 |
9,452Lowest |
61,045Highest |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.7±0.9 about the U.S. average |
37±1.2 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Hamden 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$98,306±$7k 22% above U.S. |
$86,840±$4k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$298,200±$9k 10% below U.S. |
$247,100±$6kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104 13% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,746±$50Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,519±$66 8% above U.S. |
| Hamden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 84% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,784Highest 150% above U.S. |
$5,652Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield and Sutton 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #122 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Sutton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Sutton High School | Hamden High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.6 |
13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.