Compare towns
Vernon vs Windham 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 expensive homes ($276k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Windham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,577 |
23,961Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Vernon and Manchester 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest 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+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
| Manchester and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11kHighest 25% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% 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 | $5,804Highest 13% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Windham High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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.