Compare towns
Monroe vs Southwick vs Sandy Hook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Southwick has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
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.
| Measure | Monroe | Southwick | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
9,217Lowest |
9,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 12% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.1±3Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Southwick 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 95% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$160,814±$25kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$501,200±$33k 51% above U.S. |
| 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 30% below U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,866±$439Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±26.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Southwick 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 | #211 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Southwick Regional School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.