Compare towns
Monroe vs Windsor Locks vs Suffield 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Windsor Locks | Suffield | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
12,579 |
15,702 |
9,863Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
| Suffield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% 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±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% 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 |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Suffield 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Suffield 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Windsor Locks School District | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Windsor Locks High School | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.9 |
— |
| 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.