Compare towns
Canton vs Orange vs Thompson vs Middlebury
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%).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Thompson | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
14,315Highest |
9,337 |
7,807Lowest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
44.4±2.3Lowest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlebury 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±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
| Orange and Middlebury 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
| Orange and Middlebury 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 |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest 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% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Thompson School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 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.