Compare towns
Columbia vs Cornwall vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% 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 | Columbia | Cornwall | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,425Lowest |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,047±$121 30% below CT |
$1,107±$69Highest 26% below CT |
| Windham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$5,792Highest 13% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Cornwall School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.