Compare towns
Tolland vs Sandy Hook vs Crystal Lake
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tolland has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
Crystal Lake has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Tolland | Sandy Hook | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,606Highest |
9,863 |
2,024Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.2% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$143,882±$29k 50% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,500±$21k about the CT average |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$361,800±$35kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$119Lowest 13% above CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
— |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,403 11% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,146Lowest 8% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland 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 | #60 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Tolland School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Tolland High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.