Compare towns
Mansfield vs Sandy Hook vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Sandy Hook has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Sandy Hook | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,358Highest |
9,863Lowest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20kLowest 9% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | — | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.