Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Sandy Hook vs East Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
East Windsor has the shortest commute (22 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 | Derby | Orange | Sandy Hook | East Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315Highest |
9,863Lowest |
11,213 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
45.9±5.4 12% above CT |
| Derby and East Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.9%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.9%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and East Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$96,250±$14k about the CT average |
| Sandy Hook and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$277,100±$26k 24% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,459±$145 about the CT average |
| Orange and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,873Lowest 27% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
30.4%±13.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
22 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
19.6%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and East Windsor 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #129 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | — | East Windsor School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | — | East Windsor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | — | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.