Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Sandy Hook vs Southbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Sandy Hook has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Southbury has the most affordable homes ($412k 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 | Bridgewater | Sandy Hook | Southbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
9,863 |
20,071Highest |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
54.2±2.4 32% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
33%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater 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 | $159,365±$5k 66% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$112,887±$8kLowest 18% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$411,600±$18kLowest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233Lowest about the CT average |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,935±$277Highest 30% above CT |
| Southbury and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869 3% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,240Lowest 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
49.2%±4.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Sandy Hook 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 | — | — | #36 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | — | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Pomperaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.