Compare towns
Canton vs Killingly vs Orange vs Thompson
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 renters (28.4% rent).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Orange | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
17,867Highest |
14,315 |
9,337Lowest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Killingly 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Orange and Canton 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
11.1Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.



