Compare towns
Canton vs Mansfield vs Windham vs Avon
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).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Avon has the highest household income ($154k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Windham | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
25,358Highest |
23,961 |
18,946 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
| 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Avon and Canton 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6 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% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$154,058±$13kHighest 61% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$479,700±$20kHighest 31% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,857±$151Highest 25% above CT |
| Avon and Mansfield 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 |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Avon and Mansfield 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Canton High School | E. O. Smith High School | Windham High School | Avon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.8Highest |
9.8 |
11.7 |
| 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.