Compare towns
Orange vs Sandy Hook vs Orange vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($417k 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 | Orange | Sandy Hook | Orange | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
9,863Lowest |
14,315 |
52,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -1.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
| Milford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
50.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±0.7Lowest 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 | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$110,669±$7kLowest 16% 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 | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$416,800±$9kLowest 14% above 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 | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439Lowest 25% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,882±$80 26% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$6,694Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.3%±7.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
75.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Milford 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #98 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Jonathan Law High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.