Compare towns
Canton vs Orange vs Willimantic 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%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
14,315 |
18,096 |
18,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below 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% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
24.2%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% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,857±$151 25% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% 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% |
55.9%±8.1Lowest 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%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 |
1953Lowest 14 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 |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | — | Avon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | — | 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.