Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Ridgefield vs Monroe
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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Monroe has the most homeowners (95.7%).
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 | Ridgefield | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863Lowest |
25,109Highest |
18,949 |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Ridgefield 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% |
18.7%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
| Ridgefield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Monroe 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 |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$157,250±$12kLowest 64% above CT |
| Ridgefield 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±$33kLowest 37% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Ridgefield 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+ at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+ at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+ at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield 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%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
33 minLowest 25% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ridgefield 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 | — | #4 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ridgefield School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | — | Ridgefield High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.