Compare towns
Monroe vs Mansfield 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).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
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 | Monroe | Mansfield | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949 |
25,358Highest |
9,863Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
| Monroe and Sandy Hook 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Monroe 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+ | 57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below 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 |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 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 | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | E. O. Smith High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.