Compare towns
Monroe vs Prospect vs Sandy Hook vs Windham
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).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Prospect | Sandy Hook | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949 |
9,458Lowest |
9,863 |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Prospect 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% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below 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 |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below 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 |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Prospect 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 |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 16 | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.