Compare towns
Vernon vs Ellington 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).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Vernon | Ellington | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,577 |
16,455Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
40.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Ellington and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Manchester 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% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Vernon and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6kLowest 11% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Ellington and Manchester 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 |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Manchester and Ellington 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Ellington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Ellington High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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.