Compare towns
Orange vs Sandy Hook vs West Haven 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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% 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 | West Haven | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
9,863Lowest |
55,351Highest |
17,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield 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% |
20.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
16%±1.3 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% |
30.5%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% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Brookfield 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 |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below 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±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield 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 |
$6,941Lowest 4% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest 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 | — | #120 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | West Haven High School | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.6Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.