Compare towns
Columbia vs Monroe vs Sandy Hook vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Columbia | Monroe | Sandy Hook | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
18,949Highest |
9,863 |
4,243Lowest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 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+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| 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 | $361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Monroe and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$994±$860 33% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Monroe School District | — | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.