Compare towns
Orange vs Preston vs Killingly 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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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.
| Measure | Orange | Preston | Killingly | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
4,821Lowest |
17,867Highest |
10,144 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.3±5.2 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% |
19.8%±2.3 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% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%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% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Killingly 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±$27k 22% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 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 |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,403±$358 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,232 9% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr 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 |
28 min 5% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Canton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Canton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
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.