Compare towns
Canton vs Killingly vs Middlebury vs Portland
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%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Portland has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
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 | Killingly | Middlebury | Portland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
17,867Highest |
7,807Lowest |
9,434 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
41.6±2 about the CT average |
| Canton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.3%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Portland 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
52.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.6%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Portland and Middlebury 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$133,487±$26kHighest 39% above CT |
$118,929±$15k 24% above CT |
| Middlebury and Portland 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 |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
$337,400±$36k 8% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,129±$62 24% below CT |
| Canton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
$6,461 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.5%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Canton and Portland 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT | #61 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 15 | Portland School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Portland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 10.6 |
| 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.