Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Mansfield 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).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863Lowest |
25,358Highest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.1±3 5% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange and Sandy Hook 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below 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 |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% below CT |
$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 |
$1,602±$104Lowest 8% above 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 |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.