Compare towns
Orange vs Stepney vs Sandy Hook
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).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Stepney | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
3,979Lowest |
9,863 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% 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% |
21.1%±5.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Stepney 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% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 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 |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% 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 |
$475,800±$53kLowest 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% 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 |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,866±$439Lowest 25% 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 | $8,988Lowest 35% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest 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% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.