Compare towns
Monroe vs Bridgewater vs Sandy Hook vs Tolland
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).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Monroe | Bridgewater | Sandy Hook | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
1,658Lowest |
9,863 |
14,606 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 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% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Bridgewater 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 |
$159,365±$5k 66% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland 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 |
$6,869Lowest 3% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
29 minLowest 11% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | — | — | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 12 | — | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | — | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.4Lowest |
| 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.