What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).

Southwick has the most affordable homes ($398k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sandy Hook	Southwick
People
Population	9,863Highest	9,217Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±3Lowest 11% above U.S.	46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S.
	Southwick 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 U.S.: 22%	18.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sandy Hook and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sandy Hook and Southwick 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 99% above U.S.	$120,462±$16kLowest 49% above U.S.
	Sandy Hook and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,200±$33kHighest 51% above U.S.	$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,866±$439Highest 32% above U.S.	$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±26.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sandy Hook and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	23.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sandy Hook and Southwick 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	—	#211 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town	—	Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.