Compare towns
Orange vs Sturbridge vs Canton vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Sturbridge | Canton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
9,960Lowest |
10,144 |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%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. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$117,991±$20kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$395,300±$24kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above 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 |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$7,232 132% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% 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% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest 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. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Canton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Canton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
9.6Highest |
— |
| 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.