Compare towns
Middletown vs Bethany vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Middletown | Bethany | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958 |
5,288Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Bethany and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethany and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
— | $1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Manchester and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412 3% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Manchester and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Manchester and Middletown 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | None in town | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.