Compare towns
Canton vs Columbia vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Canton | Columbia | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
5,300Lowest |
14,315Highest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Lowest 10% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Columbia and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20kLowest 23% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Orange and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Columbia 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Columbia School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.