Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Willimantic 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 highest household income ($161k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Middlebury has the oldest population (median age 44.4).
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 | Willimantic | Middlebury | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863 |
18,096Highest |
7,807Lowest |
14,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±3 5% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
44.4±2.3Highest 8% above CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| 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% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
$133,264±$16k 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
$365,500±$21k 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±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
5.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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.