Compare towns
Orange vs Suffield vs Sandy Hook vs Milford
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 most kids (22.9% under 18).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Milford has the most renters (24.2% 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 | Suffield | Sandy Hook | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
15,702 |
9,863Lowest |
52,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
| Milford 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±1.4 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%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Milford 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% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Orange 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$110,669±$7kLowest 16% above 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 |
$407,500±$26kLowest 11% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$416,800±$9k 14% 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 |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,882±$80 26% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,694 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
51.3%±7.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Sandy Hook 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
25 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #98 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Suffield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | — | Jonathan Law High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.