Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Monroe vs Sandy Hook vs Naugatuck
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Beacon Falls | Monroe | Sandy Hook | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
18,949 |
9,863 |
31,800Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
39.8±2.4Lowest 3% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
32.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck 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 | $101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$96,324±$9kLowest about the CT average |
| Sandy Hook and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT |
| Monroe and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,369±$58 8% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,362Lowest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
6.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
33 min 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Monroe School District | — | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Masuk High School | — | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.