Compare towns
Stepney vs Vernon vs Durham vs Goshen
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 kids (21.1% under 18).
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Stepney | Vernon | Durham | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979 |
30,577Highest |
7,208 |
3,196Lowest |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
51.4±3.6Highest 25% above CT |
| Goshen and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.3%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney and Vernon 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% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% CT: 42.5% |
38%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
56.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Vernon 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 |
$85,356±$6kLowest 11% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$152,093±$27k 59% above CT |
| Durham 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 |
$275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$482,400±$71kHighest 31% above CT |
| Goshen and Stepney 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 |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,250±$724 16% below CT |
| Stepney and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$5,292Lowest 20% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
31.8%±25.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Durham 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% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
4.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
88.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
42 minHighest 58% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±5.9 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Vernon 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 | — | #107 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Vernon School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | — | Rockville High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.