Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Mansfield 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 highest household income ($161k).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Middlebury has the oldest population (median age 44.4).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863 |
25,358Highest |
7,807Lowest |
| Median age | 43.1±3 5% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
44.4±2.3Highest 8% above CT |
| Middlebury and Sandy Hook 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below 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 |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% below 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Mansfield 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 |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%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 |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Sandy Hook 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | — | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.