Compare towns
Lisbon vs Orange vs Sandy Hook vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Voluntown has the most renters (16.5% rent).
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 | Lisbon | Orange | Sandy Hook | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
14,315Highest |
9,863 |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| 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 | $315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$356,100±$16k 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. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Orange and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
7.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.