Compare towns
West Haven 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
West Haven has the most expensive homes ($292k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.
| Measure | West Haven | Windham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351 |
23,961Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% 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%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1962Highest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 149 in CT | #143 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 · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Windham High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
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.