Compare towns
Prospect vs Sandy Hook vs Bethany vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Lebanon has the most renters (12% rent).
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 | Prospect | Sandy Hook | Bethany | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
9,863Highest |
5,288Lowest |
7,116 |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
46.9±2.7Highest 14% above CT |
| Lebanon and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
17.4%±3.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
40.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany 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 | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$160,814±$25k 68% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$109,135±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
| Bethany and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$345,900±$40kLowest 6% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
— | $1,630±$534Lowest 10% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$5,646Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33%±18.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
31 min 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.5%±7.9 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Lebanon 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | — | #30 of 149 in CT | #74 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | — | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Lyman Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.