Compare towns
Monroe vs Stepney vs Cornwall vs Sandy Hook
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).
Stepney has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
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 | Stepney | Cornwall | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
3,979 |
1,425Lowest |
9,863 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Cornwall and Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 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 |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$128,864±$34kLowest 35% 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±$31k 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53kLowest 30% above CT |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,047±$121 30% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% 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 |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$5,792Lowest 13% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney 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% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
30 minLowest 13% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Sandy Hook 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 | — | Cornwall 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.