What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has the most expensive homes ($295k median).

Manchester has the most kids (20% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middletown	Manchester
People
Population	47,958Lowest	59,635Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	38.1±1.5Highest 7% below CT	37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT
	Middletown and Manchester 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%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%	15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Middletown and Manchester 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%	40.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%	5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT	$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT
	Manchester and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below 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	$6,412Highest 3% below CT	$5,652Lowest 15% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±5.3Lowest 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%	10.8%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	56.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 12% below CT	23 minLowest 15% below CT
Work from home	14.1%±1.8Lowest 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	#135 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District
High school in town	Middletown High School	Manchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.