Compare towns
Hebron vs Monroe vs Sandy Hook vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Hebron | Monroe | Sandy Hook | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,157 |
18,949Highest |
9,863 |
5,300Lowest |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 18.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest 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 | $142,500±$23k 49% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% 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 | $385,800±$15k 5% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest 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 | $1,635±$241 10% above CT |
$994±$860 33% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below 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 | $8,263 24% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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 | 4.1% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 minLowest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 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 | #28 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Monroe School District | — | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | RHAM High School | Masuk High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.