Compare towns
Canaan vs Cornwall vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($129k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Canaan | Cornwall | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175Lowest |
1,425 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 54.2±3.2Highest 32% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Canaan and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Cornwall and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,632±$25k 6% below CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Cornwall and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $469,400±$33k 28% above CT |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Cornwall and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,331Highest 5% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 23 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 29.2%±13.5 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 | Cornwall School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.