Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Orange vs Hebron
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).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hebron has the most affordable homes ($386k 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 | Orange | Hebron |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863 |
14,315Highest |
9,157Lowest |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
| Orange and Hebron 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±3.3Lowest 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Hebron 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% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
52.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Hebron 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 |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
$142,500±$23k 49% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Hebron 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 |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$385,800±$15kLowest 5% 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 |
$1,635±$241Lowest 10% 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 |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$8,263Lowest 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Hebron 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 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 |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Hebron 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #28 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | RHAM High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.