What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most affordable homes ($204k median).

Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canaan	Salisbury
People
Population	961Lowest	4,224Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	38.6±11.9Lowest 6% below CT	44.2±9.9Highest 8% above CT
	Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.2%±12Highest CT: 20.2%	19.2%±6.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Canaan and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±6.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	28.1%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest CT: 42.5%	58.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±10.2Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Canaan and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,214±$38kLowest 50% below CT	$124,256±$26kHighest 30% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$204,200±$105kLowest 44% below CT	$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,588±$618Lowest 7% above CT	$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT
	Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,371Lowest 49% below CT	$5,125Highest 23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±77.5Highest CT: 52.6%	23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Canaan and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.3%Highest CT: 10%	4.2%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%	68.2%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT	1967Highest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 22% below CT	20 minLowest 25% below CT
Work from home	11.3%±11.9Lowest CT: 16%	28%±8Highest CT: 16%
	Salisbury and Canaan 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	—	#19 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Salisbury School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.