Compare towns
Preston vs Sandy Hook vs Stepney vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($316k 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 | Preston | Sandy Hook | Stepney | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
9,863Highest |
3,979Lowest |
4,211 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
| Stepney and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest 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 | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% 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 | $4,749 29% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
96.4% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 149 in CT | — | — | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | — | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.