Compare towns
Canton vs Orange vs Sandy Hook
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 affordable homes ($395k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
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 | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
14,315Highest |
9,863Lowest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% 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%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook 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±$20kLowest 23% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
| Sandy Hook 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±$24kLowest 8% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Lowest 6% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
| Orange and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232Lowest 9% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Canton and Sandy Hook 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 | — |
| School district | Canton School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.