Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Tolland vs Orange vs Bethany
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%).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
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 | Tolland | Orange | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863 |
14,606Highest |
14,315 |
5,288Lowest |
| Median age | 43.1±3 5% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% 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% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Lowest 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% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Bethany 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% |
56.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Bethany 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 |
$133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Bethany 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±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% 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 |
$1,680±$119Lowest 13% 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 |
$7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | #60 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Tolland School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | Tolland High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.