Compare towns
Vernon vs Sandy Hook vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k 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 | Vernon | Sandy Hook | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,577Highest |
9,863Lowest |
14,606 |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT |
43.1±3Highest 5% above CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Vernon and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6kLowest 11% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,680±$119 13% 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 | $5,804Lowest 13% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest 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 | 13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
5.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | — | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | — | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | — | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.