Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Bethlehem vs Middlebury
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%).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Bethlehem | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863Highest |
3,423Lowest |
7,807 |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Middlebury 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
$476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.