Compare towns
Monroe vs Sandy Hook vs Sprague
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%).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
9,863 |
2,962Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Sprague 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% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Sprague and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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±$12k 64% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$92,850±$11kLowest 3% below 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 |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below 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 |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
30 minLowest 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | — | Sprague 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 |
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.