Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Columbia 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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Southbury has the shortest commute (30 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 | Columbia | Southbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863 |
5,300Lowest |
20,071Highest |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
54.2±2.4Highest 32% above CT |
| Southbury and Columbia 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% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Southbury 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% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
33%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Southbury and Columbia 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% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Columbia 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 |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$112,887±$8kLowest 18% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Columbia 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 |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$411,600±$18k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% 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 |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$6,240 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
30 minLowest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Columbia 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | #36 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Columbia School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Pomperaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.