Compare towns
Willimantic vs Stepney vs Sandy Hook vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 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 | Willimantic | Stepney | Sandy Hook | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
3,979Lowest |
9,863 |
9,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Stepney and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$306,600±$26k 16% below 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 | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,250±$98 16% 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 | $4,678 30% below CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,411Lowest 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7Lowest 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 | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
18.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
45.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| 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.