Compare towns
Orange vs Stepney vs Sandy Hook vs Canton
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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($395k 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 | Stepney | Sandy Hook | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
3,979Lowest |
9,863 |
10,144 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
45.3±5.2 10% 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% |
22.6%±4 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%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Orange 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% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±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±$10k 49% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$117,991±$20kLowest 23% 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±$53k 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$395,300±$24kLowest 8% 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±$439 25% above CT |
$1,403±$358Lowest 6% below 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 |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,232Lowest 9% 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% |
59.9%±28.9 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% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Lowest 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 |
1976 9 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 |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Sandy Hook 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 | — | — | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | — | Canton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Canton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.