Compare towns
Andover vs Sandy Hook vs Columbia
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).
Columbia has the most renters (16.7% rent).
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 | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
9,863Highest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Andover 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% 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 |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% 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 |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Columbia 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | — | Columbia 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.