Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Ridgefield 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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 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 | Ridgefield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863Lowest |
25,109Highest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield 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% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 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±$25k 68% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Sandy Hook 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 |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$491,500±$17kLowest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,866±$439Lowest 25% above CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Ridgefield 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 |
$8,988Lowest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Ridgefield 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% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ridgefield 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 | — | #4 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ridgefield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | Ridgefield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.