Compare towns
Middlebury vs Sandy Hook vs Stepney vs Haddam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Haddam has the most affordable homes ($380k 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 | Middlebury | Sandy Hook | Stepney | Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,807 |
9,863Highest |
3,979Lowest |
8,644 |
| Median age | 44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
45.9±2.6 12% above CT |
| Stepney and Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
21%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlebury and Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$114,426±$15kLowest 19% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$379,700±$25kLowest 3% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,567±$258 5% 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 | $8,434 27% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$7,045Lowest 6% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±47Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
31 min 16% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.8%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 149 in CT | — | — | #25 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 15 | — | — | Regional School District 17 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Haddam-Killingworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.