Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Bethany vs Monroe vs Southbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Southbury has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Sandy Hook | Bethany | Monroe | Southbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863 |
5,288Lowest |
18,949 |
20,071Highest |
| Median age | 43.1±3 5% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
54.2±2.4Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
33%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
51.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $160,814±$25k 68% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$112,887±$8kLowest 18% 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 | $501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$411,600±$18kLowest 12% 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 | $1,866±$439 25% above CT |
— | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,935±$277Highest 30% above CT |
| Southbury 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 |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,240Lowest 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
49.2%±4.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
88.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
30 minLowest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
20.3%±3.9 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Southbury 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 | — | #30 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #36 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Monroe School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Masuk High School | Pomperaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.