Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Monroe vs Orange vs Oxford
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%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($472k 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 | Sandy Hook | Monroe | Orange | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863Lowest |
18,949Highest |
14,315 |
12,991 |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.2±5.7 10% above CT |
| Orange and Oxford 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% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Orange 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% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.9%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Oxford 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% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
46.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$128,953±$23kLowest 35% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$472,400±$20kLowest 29% above CT |
| Monroe and Sandy Hook 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 |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,415±$87 5% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$6,442Lowest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | — | Masuk High School | None in town | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.