Compare towns
Bethany vs Sandy Hook vs Stepney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Bethany | Sandy Hook | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
9,863Highest |
3,979Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stepney and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$160,814±$25k 68% above CT |
$153,966±$16kLowest 61% above CT |
| Bethany and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,866±$439Lowest 25% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Lowest 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | — | — |
| High school 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.