Compare towns
Orange vs Willimantic vs Orange vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Orange | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
18,096Highest |
14,315 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
+2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,232 9% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | 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 | 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.