Compare towns
Madison vs Monroe 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
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Madison | Monroe | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
18,949Highest |
9,863Lowest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±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+ | 25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$157,250±$12kLowest 64% above CT |
$160,814±$25k 68% above CT |
| Madison and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$501,200±$33kLowest 37% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
| Madison and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843Lowest 33% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Madison 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 | #7 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Monroe School District | — |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Masuk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.