Compare towns
West Haven vs Willimantic vs Manchester
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 expensive homes ($292k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | West Haven | Willimantic | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351 |
18,096Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% 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%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and West Haven 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 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% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1962Highest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | 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.