Compare towns
West Haven vs Killingly vs Manchester vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Milford has the most expensive homes ($417k median).
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 | West Haven | Killingly | Manchester | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,351 |
17,867Lowest |
59,635Highest |
52,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -1.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Milford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
50.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$110,669±$7kHighest 16% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$416,800±$9kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,882±$80Highest 26% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
$6,694 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
51.3%±7.3 CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
75.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
25 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Milford 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT | #98 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Killingly High School | Manchester High School | Jonathan Law High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.