Compare towns
Southbury vs Sandy Hook vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southbury has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Southbury | Sandy Hook | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,071Highest |
9,863 |
7,807Lowest |
| Median age | 54.2±2.4Highest 32% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest 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+ | 33%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,887±$8kLowest 18% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above 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 | $411,600±$18kLowest 12% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above 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 | $1,935±$277Highest 30% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Southbury and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,240Lowest 6% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±4.3 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
87.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±3.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Southbury 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 | #36 of 149 in CT | — | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 15 | — | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Pomperaug Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.