Compare towns
Canton vs Ridgefield vs Orange
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).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
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 | Ridgefield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
25,109Highest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
45.1±1.4Lowest 10% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% 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% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Orange 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% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 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% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Ridgefield 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 |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24kLowest 8% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Lowest 6% below CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Ridgefield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest 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% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ridgefield 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 | #4 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Ridgefield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Canton High School | Ridgefield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| 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.