Compare towns
Stepney vs Sandy Hook vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Stepney | Sandy Hook | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
9,863 |
14,315Highest |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest 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+ | 17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney 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 | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$53kLowest 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% 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 | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,866±$439Lowest 25% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309 40% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988Lowest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.