Compare towns

Canton vs Sandy Hook 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).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 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.

MeasureCantonSandy HookOrange
People
Population
10,144
9,863Lowest
14,315Highest
Median age
45.3±5.2
10% above CT
43.1±3Lowest
5% 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%
22.6%±4.1Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
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%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
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%
60.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
59.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2
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
$160,814±$25kHighest
68% above CT
$142,325±$10k
49% 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
$501,200±$33kHighest
37% above CT
$491,500±$17k
34% 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
$1,866±$439
25% above CT
$2,172±$161Highest
46% 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
$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%
52.4%±26.6Lowest
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%
5.6%
CT: 10%
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
89.2%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above CT
35 minHighest
33% above CT
28 minLowest
4% above CT
Work from home
24.8%±6.1Highest
CT: 16%
23.1%±4.4
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9Lowest
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
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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.