Compare towns
Durham vs Hebron vs Sandy Hook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k 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 | Durham | Hebron | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
9,157 |
9,863Highest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Durham and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hebron and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
52.7% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$142,500±$23kLowest 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$385,800±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,635±$241 10% above CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
$8,263 24% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Hebron and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Hebron 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #28 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | — |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | RHAM High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— |
| 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.