Compare towns
Monroe vs Columbia 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).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Columbia | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
5,300Lowest |
9,863 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Columbia 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% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Monroe 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 |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% 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 |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$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±$860 33% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Monroe 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 |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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 | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
32 minLowest 21% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Columbia School District | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.