Compare towns
Monroe vs Preston vs Sandy Hook vs Granby
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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Granby has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Preston | Sandy Hook | Granby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
4,821Lowest |
9,863 |
11,184 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
44.7±3.2 9% above CT |
| Preston and Granby 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
21.2%±3.2 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 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 |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$120,275±$14k 26% 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 |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$367,900±$17k about the CT average |
| 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 |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,335±$169 10% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Preston 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,376 26% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
29.6%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Granby 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | — | #54 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Preston School District | — | Granby School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | — | Granby Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.