Compare towns

Middletown vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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.

MeasureMiddletownSuffieldManchester
People
Population
47,958
15,702Lowest
59,635Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
38.1±1.5
7% below CT
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
37±1.2Lowest
10% below CT
Kids under 18
14.3%±1.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2
CT: 20.2%
20%±1.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
16.5%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
15.5%±1.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Suffield 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%
40.4%
CT: 42.5%
40.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.5%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±0.7
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,438±$6kLowest
17% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$86,840±$4k
9% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$295,300±$11k
20% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$247,100±$6kLowest
33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,446±$45
about the CT average
$1,424±$141Lowest
4% 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
$6,412
3% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$5,652Lowest
15% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.7%±5.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
48.1%±6.1
CT: 52.6%
Suffield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12%Highest
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.8%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
56.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1962Lowest
5 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below CT
26 minHighest
3% below CT
23 minLowest
15% below CT
Work from home
14.1%±1.8Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
14.3%±1.9
CT: 16%
Suffield and Manchester 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 #57 of 149 in CT #135 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Suffield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District
High school in town Middletown High School Suffield High School Manchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Highest
10.9Lowest
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.