Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Columbia vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sandy Hook | Columbia | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863 |
5,300Lowest |
14,315Highest |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Columbia and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest 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+ | 14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 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 | $160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% 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 | $501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$491,500±$17k 34% 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 | $1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest 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 | 5.6% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Columbia 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Columbia School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.