Compare towns
Monroe vs Sandy Hook vs Shelton
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%).
Shelton has the most renters (23.5% 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 | Sandy Hook | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949 |
9,863Lowest |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Shelton 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% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Shelton 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 |
$108,185±$11kLowest 13% 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±$33k 37% above CT |
$452,600±$13kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,741±$216 17% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Shelton 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 |
$5,409Lowest 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton 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% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
30 minLowest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | — | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | — | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.