Compare towns

Vernon vs Colebrook vs Manchester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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.

MeasureVernonColebrookManchester
People
Population
30,577
1,494Lowest
59,635Highest
Median age
39.4±2.5
4% below CT
52.1±5Highest
27% above CT
37±1.2Lowest
10% below CT
Kids under 18
16.9%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±3.9
CT: 20.2%
20%±1.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Manchester and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.6%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
26%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
15.5%±1.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38%
CT: 42.5%
36.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.8%±1.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±0.7
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,356±$6kLowest
11% below CT
$111,250±$17kHighest
16% above CT
$86,840±$4k
9% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,500±$11k
25% below CT
$342,800±$19kHighest
7% below CT
$247,100±$6kLowest
33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$77
4% below CT
$1,333±$626Lowest
10% below CT
$1,519±$66Highest
about the CT average
Manchester and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,804
13% below CT
$6,211Highest
7% below CT
$5,652Lowest
15% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.3%±5.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55
CT: 52.6%
48.1%±6.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Manchester and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.8%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
56.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
1 yr newer than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1962
5 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
34 minHighest
29% above CT
23 minLowest
15% below CT
Work from home
13.4%±2.5
CT: 16%
7%±3.8Lowest
CT: 16%
14.3%±1.9Highest
CT: 16%
Manchester and Vernon 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 #107 of 149 in CT — #135 of 149 in CT
School district Vernon School District Colebrook School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District
High school in town Rockville High School None in town Manchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
—
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.