Compare towns
Andover vs Sandy Hook vs Barkhamsted
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sandy Hook has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Barkhamsted has the most affordable homes ($368k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Andover | Sandy Hook | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
9,863Highest |
3,678 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
50.2±3.3 22% above CT |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$123,544±$9kLowest 29% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36k about the CT average |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$368,000±$15kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,164±$114Lowest 22% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,354Lowest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 149 in CT | — | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | — | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.