Compare towns
Canton vs Orange vs Putnam vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Orange | Putnam | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
14,315 |
9,292Lowest |
18,946Highest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
| Orange and Canton 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Avon and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below 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±$358 6% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,857±$151 25% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Avon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
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.