Compare towns
Orange vs Sandy Hook vs Windham
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%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315 |
9,863Lowest |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Orange and Sandy Hook 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% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% 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 | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% 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 | $8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.