Compare towns
Suffield vs Sandy Hook vs Orange vs Windsor Locks
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%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Sandy Hook | Orange | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
9,863Lowest |
14,315 |
12,579 |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| 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% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 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% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below 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±$26k 11% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below 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±$141 4% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below 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 | $6,456 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | — | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | — | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.