Compare towns
Suffield vs Orange vs Sandy Hook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Suffield | Orange | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
14,315 |
9,863Lowest |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Orange and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 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+ | 18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest 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 | $119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% 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 | $407,500±$26kLowest 11% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% 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 | $1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% 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 | $6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Suffield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.