Compare towns
Monroe vs Sandy Hook vs Sharon vs Stepney
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).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).
Stepney has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
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 | Sandy Hook | Sharon | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
9,863 |
2,723Lowest |
3,979 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.8% CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest 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 |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% 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±$31k 37% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$475,800±$53kLowest 30% above CT |
| Sharon and Monroe 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±$439 25% above CT |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook 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 |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon 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% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
30 minLowest 13% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Sharon 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | — | Sharon School District | — |
| 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.