Compare towns
Orange vs Lyme vs Brookfield 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($395k median).
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 | Lyme | Brookfield | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
2,303Lowest |
17,706Highest |
10,144 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brookfield 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% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$117,991±$20kLowest 23% above CT |
| Brookfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$395,300±$24kLowest 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$1,403±$358Lowest 6% below CT |
| Orange and Brookfield 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 |
$7,328 10% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$7,232Lowest 9% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 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% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
| Lyme 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #67 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 18 | Brookfield School District | Canton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brookfield High School | Canton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.