Compare towns

Orange vs Plainfield vs Upton vs Canton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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.

MeasureOrangePlainfieldUptonCanton
People
Population
14,315
15,141Highest
8,189Lowest
10,144
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.4
17% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
45.3±5.2
16% above U.S.
Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±4
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
23.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield 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±$10k
76% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$117,991±$20k
46% above U.S.
Upton 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
48% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$395,300±$24k
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
54% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,403±$358
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
188% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$8,376
169% above U.S.
$7,232
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
59.9%±28.9
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Canton and Upton 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 #131 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #22 of 149 in CT
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Plainfield School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Canton School District
High school in town None in town Plainfield High School Blackstone Valley Canton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3
11.2Highest
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.