Compare towns
Monroe vs Redding vs Stepney 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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Stepney has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Sandy Hook has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Redding | Stepney | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
8,780 |
3,979Lowest |
9,863 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Redding and Stepney 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% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$153,966±$16kLowest 61% above CT |
$160,814±$25k 68% above CT |
| Redding and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$475,800±$53kLowest 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
| Stepney and Redding 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309Lowest 40% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 29% above CT |
36 min 36% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | — | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Joel Barlow High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.