Compare towns
Cornwall vs Columbia vs West Cornwall
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 people working from home (32.4%).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
West Cornwall has the highest household income ($175k).
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 | Cornwall | Columbia | West Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,425 |
5,300Highest |
70Lowest |
| Median age | 53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
61.3±14.1Highest 49% above CT |
| West Cornwall and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
8.6%±49.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
44.3%±50.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| West Cornwall and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±21.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,864±$34k 35% above CT |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% above CT |
$175,156±$54kHighest 83% above CT |
| West Cornwall and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$395,800±$64k 8% above CT |
| Cornwall and West Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,047±$121Highest 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
— |
| Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,792Highest 13% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,056Lowest 54% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±31.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
14.6%±12.8Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Cornwall School District | Columbia School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.