What are the schools like in Manchester, CT?

Manchester is served primarily by Manchester School District. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.3:1.

What is the median household income in Manchester?

The median household income in Manchester, CT is $73,265 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Manchester, CT?

Manchester has an average high temperature of 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 51.7 inches.

Manchester, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Manchester, CT affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Manchester is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $195,200 and the median rent is $1,289 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Manchester, CT?

Manchester has a violent crime rate of 133.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2115.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Manchester, CT a Good Place to Live?

Manchester is a small city of 37,015 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $73,265 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Manchester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Manchester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Manchester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.9

Manchester's overall cost of living index is 96.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Manchester costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Manchester, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$195,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,289	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	53.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,265	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Manchester's violent crime rate is 133.0 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

133.0 /100k

Property Crime

2115.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Manchester is served primarily by Manchester School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Manchester, CT	National Avg
School District	Manchester School District	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Manchester sees average highs of 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 50.2 inches of annual precipitation and 51.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Manchester, CT
Average High — January	36.8°F
Average High — July	84.6°F
Annual Precipitation	50.2"
Annual Snowfall	51.7"

Demographics

Metric	Manchester, CT	National Avg
Population	37,015	—
Median Age	36.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	56.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	20.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	14.3%	18.9%
Asian	4.9%	6.3%
Under 18	20.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

East Hartford, CT 5 mi Glastonbury Center, CT 7 mi Rockville, CT 7 mi Hartford, CT 8 mi Broad Brook, CT 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Manchester

Manchester, CT is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

06040 06042

Manchester vs Other Cities

Manchester, CT vs East Hartford, CT Manchester, CT vs Glastonbury Center, CT Manchester, CT vs Rockville, CT Manchester, CT vs Hartford, CT Manchester, CT vs Broad Brook, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manchester, CT affordable or expensive?

Manchester's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Manchester roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $195,200 and median rent is $1,289/month.

What is the crime rate in Manchester, CT?

Manchester's violent crime rate is 133.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2115.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Manchester?

Public schools in Manchester are operated by Manchester School District. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1. 30.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Manchester, CT a good place to live?

Manchester, CT has a population of 37,015, a median household income of $73,265, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Manchester?

Manchester averages 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.2 inches with about 51.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Manchester?

Manchester, CT is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 06040, 06042.

What is the population of Manchester?

The population of Manchester, Connecticut is 37,015 with a median age of 36.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Manchester?

Key numbers for living in Manchester: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $195,200, median household income $73,265, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Manchester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.