Compare towns
Portland vs Canton vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portland has the most affordable homes ($337k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Portland | Canton | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,434 |
10,144Highest |
7,807Lowest |
| Median age | 41.6±2Lowest about the CT average |
45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| Canton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Portland and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,929±$15k 24% above CT |
$117,991±$20kLowest 23% above CT |
$133,487±$26kHighest 39% above CT |
| Middlebury and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,400±$36kLowest 8% below CT |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,129±$62 24% below CT |
$1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Canton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,461Lowest about the CT average |
$7,232 9% above CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Portland 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.8 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Portland 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 | #61 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Portland School District | Canton School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Portland High School | Canton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.