Compare towns
Middlebury vs Orange vs Sandy Hook vs Naugatuck
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Middlebury | Orange | Sandy Hook | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,807Lowest |
14,315 |
9,863 |
31,800Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
39.8±2.4Lowest 3% below CT |
| Orange and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
32.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$96,324±$9kLowest 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 | $476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% 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 | $398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,369±$58 8% 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 | $8,434 27% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,362Lowest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4 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 | 5.8% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
6.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
33 min 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 15 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 15.2 |
| 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.