Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Lisbon vs Orange vs Middlebury
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 most people working from home (23.1%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 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 | Lisbon | Orange | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863 |
4,211Lowest |
14,315Highest |
7,807 |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| Orange and Lisbon 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% |
22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8Lowest 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% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Middlebury 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% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Middlebury 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 |
$92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$133,487±$26k 39% 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 |
$315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$476,400±$23k 30% 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 |
— | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% CT: 10% |
6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
87.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #102 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Lisbon School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.