Compare towns
Prospect vs Sandy Hook vs Stepney vs East Haddam
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 people working from home (23.1%).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
East Haddam has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Stepney | East Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
9,863Highest |
3,979Lowest |
8,969 |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
50±2.9Highest 22% above CT |
| East Haddam and Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±3.7Lowest 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%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
25.6%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Haddam and Prospect 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% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
38.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.5 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 | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$107,861±$9kLowest 13% above 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 | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$352,700±$24kLowest 4% 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 | $1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,242±$331Lowest 17% below 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 | $6,504 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$5,724Lowest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
26%±13Lowest 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 | 3.2% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 7 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 | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and East Haddam 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 | — | — | #68 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | — | — | East Haddam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Nathan Hale-Ray High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.