Compare towns
Stepney vs Sandy Hook vs Brookfield vs North Stonington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Brookfield has the most renters (13.5% rent).
North Stonington has the most affordable homes ($397k 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 | Stepney | Sandy Hook | Brookfield | North Stonington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
9,863 |
17,706Highest |
5,160 |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
50.8±3.8Highest 24% above CT |
| North Stonington and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±4.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
25%±5.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| North Stonington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
51.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.1%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$123,938±$10kLowest 29% 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 | $475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$397,100±$39kLowest 8% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$1,298±$1kLowest 13% below CT |
| Stepney and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309 40% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$6,224Lowest 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±52.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
1.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Brookfield 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 | — | — | #67 of 149 in CT | #44 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Brookfield School District | North Stonington School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Brookfield High School | Wheeler High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| 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.