Living in Manchester, CT
Manchester is a Hartford County town east of Hartford, crossed by Interstates 84 and 384, with a Main Street downtown, the Cheney Brothers Historic District and the Shoppes at Buckland Hills.
Manchester at a glance
- Median sale price
- $347,000+6.8% vs last year 570 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 41.00 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$10,000 median-priced home
- Population
- 59,948 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 27.4 sq mi 2,186 per sq mi
What it is like in Manchester
Manchester is in Hartford County and covers 27.42 square miles, with a population of 59,948. It borders East Hartford, South Windsor, Vernon and Glastonbury.
Colonists settled the area around 1673, and Manchester was incorporated as a town in 1823 after being part of East Hartford. The Cheney family started a silk mill in 1838, and the Cheney Brothers mill complex is now the Cheney Brothers Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. The Hilliard Mills site, now home to 2nd Bridge Brewing, dates to about 1780.
Main Street runs through downtown, and the Shoppes at Buckland Hills mall is in town. Museums include the Cheney Homestead, the Lutz Children's Museum and The Fire Museum.
Manchester has many parks and outdoor places, including Northwest Park, Center Springs Pond Park, Robertson Park, Center Park and the Wickham Park Aviary. The Hop River State Park Trail Head is in town, and Manchester Country Club is a golf course.
Downtown Main Street has coffee, Thai food and a number of pubs, and the town has several breweries: 2nd Bridge Brewing, Urban Lodge Brewing and Elicit Brewing. Shady Glen has served ice cream and burgers since 1948. The Manchester Road Race is held each Thanksgiving morning and Cruisin' on Main Street is an August car show.
Getting around from Manchester
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 16 min | 10 |
| New Haven | 58 min | 45 |
| Stamford | 111 min | 84 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 164 min | 119 |
| Boston | 118 min | 94 |
| Providence | 92 min | 66 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 34 min | 20 |
Rail
No passenger rail station within 8 miles.
Highways and routes
Parts of Interstates 84, 384 and 291 run through Manchester, and Routes 6, 44 and 83 cross town. Route 83 becomes Main Street downtown. Hartford is 10 miles and 16 minutes away, and Bradley Airport is 20 miles and 34 minutes away.
Connecticut Transit's Hartford division runs bus routes between Manchester and Hartford. Other drive times are 58 minutes to New Haven, 92 minutes to Providence, 118 minutes to Boston and 164 minutes to Midtown New York City. No rail stations are listed in town.
Schools in Manchester
13 public schools in Manchester School District, Odyssey Community School District, Hartford School District and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 8
- Bowers
- Buckley
- Highland Park
- Keeney
- Martin
- Odyssey Community
- Verplanck
- Waddell
Middle 2
- Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy
- Illing
High school 3
- Great Path Academy at MCC
- Howell Cheney Technical High School
- Manchester High School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Manchester School District, Odyssey Community School District, Hartford School District and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Manchester
Open Manchester in Google Maps →Eat and drink 9
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Craft brewery taproom with an outdoor seating area, housed in the historic Hilliard Mills.
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Diner serving French-Canadian dishes alongside classic American breakfast and lunch fare.
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Brewery taproom on Adams Street pouring its own craft beers.
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Deli and sandwich shop on East Center Street serving pastrami and other sandwiches.
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Diner-style dairy bar serving homemade ice cream, burgers and fried cheese since 1948.
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Coffee shop and roastery on Main Street with baked goods.
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Thai restaurant on Main Street with dine-in and takeout.
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Pub with a grille menu, draft beers and live music on Main Street.
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Brewery and taproom with a patio, just off Main Street.
Things to do and see 3
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House museum dating from about 1785, run by the Manchester Historical Society.
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Hands-on museum in a former schoolhouse, with exhibits and a small animal sanctuary.
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Museum in a 1901 wooden firehouse showing Connecticut fire service collectibles and apparatus.
Parks, preserves and trails 61
Show 47 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Manchester housing market
Over the last 12 months, 570 homes sold in Manchester with a median sale price of $347,000 and a median of 7 days on market. There are 58 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $222 per square foot. The typical home sold for 104% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 6.8% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 1.2 months.
Manchester's town-wide property tax rate is 41.00 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $10,000 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Manchester
See all 58 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Manchester.
Questions about Manchester
What is the median home price in Manchester, CT?
The median sale price in Manchester is $347,000, based on 570 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Manchester, CT?
Manchester's town-wide property tax rate is 41.00 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $10,000 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Manchester, CT from Hartford?
Manchester is about 10 miles and a 16-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Manchester, CT from New York City?
Manchester is about 119 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 164-minute drive without traffic.
What is the population of Manchester, CT?
Manchester has about 59,948 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 27.4 square miles.
How many public schools are in Manchester, CT?
Manchester has 13 public schools in Manchester School District, Odyssey Community School District, Hartford School District and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Manchester, CT?
There are 58 homes for sale in Manchester right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
How far is Manchester from Hartford?
It is 10 miles and about 16 minutes by car. CT Transit bus routes also connect the two.
Which highways serve Manchester?
Interstates 84, 384 and 291 pass through town, and Routes 6, 44 and 83 are the main local roads.
What museums are in town?
The Cheney Homestead, the Lutz Children's Museum, The Fire Museum and the Old Manchester Museum are the main ones.
Which towns border Manchester?
East Hartford, South Windsor, Vernon and Glastonbury.
What annual events are held in Manchester?
The Manchester Road Race runs every Thanksgiving morning and Cruisin' on Main Street is held each August.
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