Compare towns
Orange vs Sturbridge vs Canton vs Derby
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 expensive homes ($492k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Sturbridge | Canton | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
9,960Lowest |
10,144 |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.3±5.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby 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±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$117,991±$20k 46% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Orange and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$395,300±$24k 19% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,403±$358 about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$7,232 132% above U.S. |
$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±28.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #22 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Canton School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Canton High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
9.6 |
9.7Highest |
| 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.