Compare towns
Lyme vs Orange vs Sandy Hook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
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 | Lyme | Orange | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303Lowest |
14,315Highest |
9,863 |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 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+ | 30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest 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 | $135,000±$22kLowest 41% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% 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 | $629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$491,500±$17kLowest 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
| Lyme and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,719±$1kLowest 16% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above 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 | $7,328Lowest 10% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Sandy Hook 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.