What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Haven has the most expensive homes ($292k median).

Manchester has the most people working from home (14.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Haven	Manchester
People
Population	55,351Lowest	59,635Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT	37±1.2Highest 10% below CT
	Manchester and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%	20%±1.6Lowest 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%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%	15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	West Haven and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%	40.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%	5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT	$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT	$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT	$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average
	Manchester and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 4% above CT	$5,652Lowest 15% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%	48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6%
	West Haven and Manchester 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%	10.8%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	56.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT	1962Highest 5 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below CT	23 minLowest 15% below CT
Work from home	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#120 of 149 in CT	#135 of 149 in CT
School district	New Haven School District · West Haven School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District
High school in town	West Haven High School	Manchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.6Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.