Compare towns
Mansfield vs Washington 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 youngest population (median age 21.2).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Washington | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,358 |
3,676Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Washington and Manchester 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Mansfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 minHighest 4% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Shepaug Valley School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.