Compare towns
Hamden vs Monroe 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
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Hamden | Monroe | Sandy Hook | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
18,949 |
9,863 |
3,979Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
| Stepney and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 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+ | 18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% 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 | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
| Monroe and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,866±$439 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 | $7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest 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 | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Monroe School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Masuk High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.