States › Connecticut › Manchester

Is Manchester, CT expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 26 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,748same as U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$80,097about $6,675/month · 8% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$223,40033% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 54% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $69,920 a year. That is $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Connecticut cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Connecticut. It is number 27 of 64 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Manchester
$1,748
Torrington
$1,807
Norwich
$1,611
Shelton
$2,589
Naugatuck
$1,632
Newington
$1,664
Middletown
$1,705

How much do households earn in Manchester?

Under $25k
14.3%
$25k–50k
19.6%
$50k–100k
36.6%
$100k–150k
16.8%
$150k+
7.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 24.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Manchester

SizeManchesterU.S. average
Studio$1,368$1,338
1 bedroom$1,301$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,597$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,653$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,924$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Manchester overall?

Everyday prices in Connecticut overall are 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
117
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
146
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Manchester, so the Connecticut figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Manchester

🏛️ Property tax$4,903a year · 2.19% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$138a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Manchester

Commute to work22.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree31.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home55.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.5%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Manchester?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $198 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,748
Owning
$1,550

Owning assumes a typical $223,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $22,340 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Manchester, CT?

Renting in Manchester costs a median of about $1,748 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Connecticut median is $1,920.

How much do I need to make to live in Manchester?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $69,920 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Manchester cheap or expensive?

Manchester is rated OK: rent takes 26.2% of the typical household income of $80,097. It ranks 27th cheapest of 64 Connecticut cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Manchester?

The median homeowner in Manchester pays $4,903 a year in property taxes, about 2.19% of the median home value.

Is Manchester more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Connecticut are 4% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Manchester?

The median home value in Manchester is $223,400, about 2.8 times the typical yearly household income.

36,759 people live in Manchester. Numbers are typical (middle) values.