Compare towns
Prospect vs Manchester vs Harwinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Prospect | Manchester | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458 |
59,635Highest |
5,575Lowest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
| Harwinton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,504±$200Lowest about the CT average |
| Prospect and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Highest about the CT average |
$5,652 15% below CT |
$5,503Lowest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Manchester and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Manchester and Harwinton 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.