Compare towns
Monroe vs Prospect vs Willimantic 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).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Prospect | Willimantic | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
9,458Lowest |
18,096 |
9,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.1±3 5% above 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% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% 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 |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% 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 |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 16 | — | — |
| 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 | 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.