Compare towns
Orange vs Stepney vs West Haven 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).
Stepney has the highest household income ($154k).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% 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 | Stepney | West Haven | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
3,979Lowest |
55,351Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
| Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest 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% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| West Haven and Stepney 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 |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
| Stepney 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±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,403±$358Lowest 6% below CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$6,941Lowest 4% above CT |
$7,232 9% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #120 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Canton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | West Haven High School | Canton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.6Highest |
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.