Rents are 4% below what Manchester's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,065 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Manchester is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2023.
Rent in Manchester changed +3.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 41 Connecticut cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.
Rent rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($74,267) is $1,857 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,830); a 3-bedroom is $2,205.
East Hartford, 5 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,648/mo), about $5,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Manchester. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Manchester, CT is majority owner-occupied, 31.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Manchester, CT has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $74,267 today, compared with $66,637 five years earlier. About 44.1% of households rent today, against 45.6% in 2021.
Discussions about Manchester
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Can you afford rent in Manchester on your salary?
At $2,065/mo, how Manchester rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Manchester rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Manchester. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Manchester
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Manchester is $2,065/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,255/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,830/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,445/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,205/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($74,267/yr), Manchester ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Manchester?
Is rent going up or down in Manchester?
Which Manchester neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Manchester rent compare to other cities in Connecticut?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Manchester?
At $2,065/mo, rent takes ~33% of Manchester's median household income ($74,267/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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