Compare towns
Columbia vs Sandy Hook vs Coventry
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 oldest population (median age 51.3).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 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 | Sandy Hook | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,863 |
12,326Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
| Columbia and Coventry 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Columbia 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 |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$108,213±$5kLowest 13% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$330,000±$23kLowest 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,232±$330 17% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry 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%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1966Lowest 1 yr older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest 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 | — | #41 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | — | Coventry School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.