Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Wilton 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 most homeowners (92.9%).
Wilton has the most expensive homes ($929k 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 | Wilton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,863Lowest |
18,777Highest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
43.1±1.7Lowest 5% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% 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%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Wilton 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% |
16%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9% CT: 42.5% |
75.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$242,199±$16kHighest 153% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$928,800±$28kHighest 153% above CT |
$491,500±$17kLowest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,819±$438Lowest 22% 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 |
$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% |
56.6%±15.7 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Wilton 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above CT |
36 minHighest 35% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
33.8%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #6 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Wilton School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | Wilton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.