Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Stepney vs Middlebury vs Tolland
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%).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k 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.
| Measure | Sandy Hook | Stepney | Middlebury | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863 |
3,979Lowest |
7,807 |
14,606Highest |
| Median age | 43.1±3 5% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlebury and Stepney 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% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Tolland 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 |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
$133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney 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 |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
| 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±$439 25% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Stepney 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 |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
$7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
87.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland 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 | — | — | #55 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Regional School District 15 | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.