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Living in
Manchester.
Manchester is an unincorporated community in the county, CT. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Manchester
If you're considering Manchester, know that you're looking at a stable, established suburb with real community infrastructure—good schools that eat up a significant chunk of the budget, solid recreational offerings, and a job market centered on retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and government work. The median home value hovers around $223,000 and rent averages $1,384 monthly, which is on the higher side for Connecticut. Your commute would average about 22 minutes, manageable if you're working locally or in Hartford.
Manchester at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.5%
Foreign-Born
13.5%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Median household income
Demographics13.5% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Manchester: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Manchester, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (19.5%), and 12.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.1%
of residents
65 and Older
14.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.5%
of households
Married Couples
30.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% below CT average
Rent, home values, and income in Manchester
In Manchester, rent runs 7% below the CT average, and home values are 39% below the CT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,903
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $331,988 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CT
Unemployment in Manchester
Unemployment in Capitol Planning Region, which includes Manchester, is close to the CT average.
Unemployment rate
Manchester: Capitol Planning Region rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Capitol Planning Region (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Manchester Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.8 min avg
How Manchester residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Manchester, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 88 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 64% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Manchester runs 64% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
118.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,849.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Manchester Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
In Hartford County, which includes Manchester, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,800 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42,700 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,600 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,900 |
| 2021 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.0M |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $66,200 |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.8M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hartford County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hartford County, which includes Manchester, is typically good — 248 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
248
per year
Moderate Days
109
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Hartford County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Manchester has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.2"
Annual Snowfall
51.7"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 20°F | 2.94" |
| Feb | 40°F | 22°F | 2.57" |
| Mar | 48°F | 30°F | 3.51" |
| Apr | 60°F | 40°F | 3.79" |
| May | 71°F | 50°F | 3.43" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 3.88" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 3.87" |
| Aug | 83°F | 64°F | 3.48" |
| Sep | 76°F | 56°F | 3.97" |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 4.20" |
| Nov | 52°F | 35°F | 3.44" |
| Dec | 42°F | 26°F | 3.75" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Manchester
Manchester has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Manchester Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Hartford Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Hartford
Connecticut Childrens Medical Center
Childrens · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Hartford
St Francis Hospital & Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.1 mi away · Hartford
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Manchester
Manchester's student/teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 31.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Manchester (within 15 miles)
Connecticut State Community College
7.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 33,645 students · in-state tuition $5,338 · 26% graduate · median earnings $46,642 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 19,835 students · in-state tuition $21,334 · 84% graduate · median earnings $82,098 (10 yrs after entry)
Central Connecticut State University
14 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 7,822 students · in-state tuition $13,050 · 59% graduate · median earnings $65,779 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,146 students · in-state tuition $50,445 · 61% graduate · median earnings $66,020 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 2,693 students · in-state tuition $21,188 · 44% graduate · median earnings $52,576 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,146 students · in-state tuition $73,590 · 82% graduate · median earnings $103,089 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Springfield Armory National Historic Site, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Manchester
Manchester has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Springfield Armory National Historic Site (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Springfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
35 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
57 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
59 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
59 mi awayWeir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
60 mi awayTouro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
66 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Manchester
Manchester Public Library
586 Main St., Manchester
Whiton Memorial Library
100 North Main St., Manchester
Cities Near Manchester
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Manchester?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Manchester FAQ
Is Manchester, Connecticut affordable?⌄
Manchester's median rent is $1,384/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $74,267/year. Median home value is $223,400.
Is Manchester, Connecticut safe?⌄
Manchester's violent crime rate was 118 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1850 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Manchester, Connecticut?⌄
Capitol Planning Region, which includes Manchester, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Manchester, Connecticut?⌄
The cost of living in Manchester is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,384/month and median household income is $74,267/year. The median home value is $223,400. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Manchester, Connecticut?⌄
The average commute in Manchester is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from