Compare towns
Canton vs Derby vs Orange vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
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 | Derby | Orange | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
12,487 |
14,315 |
18,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.3±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
| Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Orange 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% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$154,058±$13kHighest 61% above CT |
| Avon and Orange 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$479,700±$20k 31% above CT |
| Orange and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,857±$151 25% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9 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% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Avon and Canton 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Canton High School | Derby High School | None in town | Avon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
9.7 |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.