Compare towns
Stepney vs Willimantic vs Sandy Hook vs Durham
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 oldest population (median age 47.1).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 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 | Stepney | Willimantic | Sandy Hook | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
18,096Highest |
9,863 |
7,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Stepney and Durham 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% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Stepney and Durham 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Durham 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Durham 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 | — | — | — | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | — | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.