Compare towns
Stepney vs Sandy Hook vs Preston vs Easton
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%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Easton has the most expensive homes ($783k 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 | Preston | Easton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
9,863Highest |
4,821 |
7,670 |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
45±3.8 9% above CT |
| Stepney and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.4%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Easton 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.7%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Stepney 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% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 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±$25k 68% above CT |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT |
$222,604±$46kHighest 132% above CT |
| Easton and Sandy Hook 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±$33k 37% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$783,100±$51kHighest 113% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1k 85% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$3,205±$1kHighest 115% above CT |
| Easton and Stepney 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
21.8%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Preston 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% CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
6.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
88.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
33 min 24% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
21.3%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Easton 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 | — | — | #93 of 149 in CT | #9 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Preston School District | Easton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.