Compare towns
Middletown vs Putnam 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 expensive homes ($295k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Manchester has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Putnam | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958 |
7,120Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
41.2±5.1Highest about the CT average |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Putnam 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%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest 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% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
25 minHighest 5% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest 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 | #128 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 | 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.