Compare towns

Orange vs Plainville vs Canton

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 expensive homes ($492k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).

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.

MeasureOrangePlainvilleCanton
People
Population
14,315
17,551Highest
10,144Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
45.6±2.4Highest
11% above CT
44.3±1.5Lowest
8% above CT
45.3±5.2
10% 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
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.6%±4
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%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.2Highest
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+
59.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
57.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Plainville and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
$84,343±$7kLowest
12% below CT
$117,991±$20k
23% above CT
Orange and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
$395,300±$24k
8% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,126±$147Lowest
24% below CT
$1,403±$358
6% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$4,798Lowest
28% below CT
$7,232
9% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
59.9%±28.9
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
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.5%Highest
CT: 10%
5.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
83.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
29 minHighest
9% above CT
Work from home
15.6%±2.9
CT: 16%
10.7%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
24.8%±6.1Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT #22 of 149 in CT
School district — Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Canton School District
High school in town — Plainville High School Canton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Highest
9.6Lowest
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.