Compare towns
Middletown vs Windham 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
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Windham | Suffield | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,958 |
23,961 |
15,702Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%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% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,424±$141 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 |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%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 |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Windham High School | Suffield High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.