Compare towns
Cornwall vs Columbia vs West Cornwall vs Canaan
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).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
West Cornwall has the highest household income ($175k).
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,425 |
5,300Highest |
70Lowest |
1,175 |
| Median age | 53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
61.3±14.1Highest 49% above CT |
54.2±3.2 32% above CT |
| West Cornwall and Canaan 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% |
14.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Cornwall and Canaan 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% |
27.5%±1.9 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% |
49.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±21.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest 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 | $128,864±$34k 35% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$175,156±$54kHighest 83% above CT |
$89,632±$25kLowest 6% below 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 |
$469,400±$33k 28% above CT |
| Cornwall and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,047±$121 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
— | $1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,792 13% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,056Lowest 54% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
67.1%±26Highest 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 | 8.2% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.8% 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 |
1944 23 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
14.6%±12.8Lowest CT: 16% |
29.2%±13.5 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Cornwall School District | Columbia School District | — | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Housatonic Valley Regional High School |
| 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.