Compare towns
Canaan vs Cornwall vs Union vs Salisbury
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 most people working from home (32.4%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.
| Measure | Canaan | Cornwall | Union | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
1,425 |
944Lowest |
4,224Highest |
| Median age | 54.2±3.2Highest 32% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
44.2±9.9Lowest 8% 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±6.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salisbury and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
28.1%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Cornwall and Salisbury 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% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Union 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 |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$124,256±$26k 30% above CT |
| Cornwall and Salisbury 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±$106k 51% above CT |
$330,400±$26kLowest 10% below CT |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
| Salisbury and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,830±$307 23% above CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below 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 | $6,331Highest 5% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,125 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Canaan 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% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
68.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 23 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
20 min 25% below CT |
| Work from home | 29.2%±13.5 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
28%±8 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 | — | — | — | #19 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 | Cornwall School District | Union School District | Salisbury School District |
| High school in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.