Compare towns
Orange vs Sandy Hook vs Stepney vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Brookfield has the most renters (13.5% 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 | Orange | Sandy Hook | Stepney | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
9,863 |
3,979Lowest |
17,706Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney 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 | $142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney 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 |
$475,800±$53kLowest 30% above CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% 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±$161 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439Lowest 25% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$7,594Lowest 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Brookfield 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 | — | — | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | — | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.