Compare towns
Orange vs Thompson vs Derby 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% 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 | Thompson | Derby | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
9,337Lowest |
12,487 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.3±5.2Lowest 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Canton 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 49% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% 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 |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$7,232 9% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Thompson School District | Derby School District | Canton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Derby High School | Canton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.7Highest |
9.6 |
| 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.