Compare towns
Orange vs Preston 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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Preston | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
4,821Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
45.3±5.2Lowest 10% above CT |
| Preston and Orange 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Lowest 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% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above 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 |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,403±$358Lowest 6% below CT |
| Orange and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,232 9% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Preston School District | Canton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Canton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.