What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monroe	Sandy Hook
People
Population	18,949Highest	9,863Lowest
Median age	43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT	43.1±3Lowest 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%	22.6%±4.1Lowest 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%	14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%	60.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.2%±2.1Highest 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±$12kLowest 64% above 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	$501,200±$33kLowest 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	$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT
	Sandy Hook and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6%
	Sandy Hook and Monroe 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%	5.6%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	92.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 29% above CT	35 minHighest 33% above CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%	23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Monroe School District	—
High school in town	Masuk High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.