Compare towns
Andover vs Bridgewater vs Cornwall vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Columbia has the most renters (16.7% rent).
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 | Andover | Bridgewater | Cornwall | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,152 |
1,658 |
1,425Lowest |
5,300Highest |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Lowest 25% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Andover and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$128,864±$34k 35% above CT |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36k about the CT average |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,467±$233Highest about the CT average |
$1,047±$121 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Bridgewater and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$6,869Highest 3% above CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Bridgewater 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | — | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Regional School District 12 | Cornwall School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.