Compare towns
Canton vs Hamden vs Avon vs Simsbury
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Simsbury has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Hamden | Avon | Simsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
61,045Highest |
18,946 |
25,066 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
42.3±2.1 about the CT average |
| Canton and Avon 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
24.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Simsbury 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% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Avon 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% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
71.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$157,907±$11kHighest 65% above CT |
| Simsbury and Avon 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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$479,700±$20kHighest 31% above CT |
$443,500±$11k 21% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,857±$151 25% above CT |
$2,203±$118Highest 48% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232Lowest 9% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
$9,115 37% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
48%±8.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
27.1%±3 CT: 16% |
| Avon and Simsbury 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT | #13 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Simsbury School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | Hamden High School | Avon High School | Simsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.7 |
11.9 |
| 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.