Compare towns
Portland vs Cromwell vs Canton
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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Cromwell has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Portland | Cromwell | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,434Lowest |
14,334Highest |
10,144 |
| Median age | 41.6±2Lowest about the CT average |
43.5±2.5 6% above CT |
45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
| Canton and Cromwell 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% |
19.1%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4Highest 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% |
22%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% CT: 42.5% |
49.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,929±$15kHighest 24% above CT |
$110,596±$10kLowest 15% above CT |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
| Portland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,400±$36k 8% below CT |
$325,200±$22kLowest 11% below CT |
$395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
| Canton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,129±$62Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,628±$154Highest 9% above CT |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
| Cromwell and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,461 about the CT average |
$6,137Lowest 8% below CT |
$7,232Highest 9% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±20.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Cromwell 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%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% 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 |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest 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 | #69 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Portland School District | Cromwell School District | Canton School District |
| High school in town | Portland High School | Cromwell High School | Canton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
11.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.