Compare towns
Monroe vs Beacon Falls 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
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Monroe | Beacon Falls | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
6,147Lowest |
9,863 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% 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 | $503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% 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 | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,534Lowest about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
33 minLowest 23% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Beacon Falls 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 16 | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Woodland Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.