Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Preston vs Orange vs Tolland
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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Orange has the most renters (10.8% rent).
Tolland has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Preston | Orange | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863 |
4,821Lowest |
14,315 |
14,606Highest |
| Median age | 43.1±3 5% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Sandy Hook 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 |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$133,264±$16k 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 |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| 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 |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,680±$119 13% 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Orange 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Preston School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.