Compare towns
Cornwall vs Meriden vs Lyme 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%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k 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 | Meriden | Lyme | West Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,425 |
60,545Highest |
2,303 |
70Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
61.3±14.1Highest 49% above CT |
| West Cornwall and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
8.6%±49.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
44.3%±50.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| West Cornwall and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±21.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Meriden 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 |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$175,156±$54kHighest 83% above CT |
| West Cornwall and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$395,800±$64k 8% above CT |
| Lyme and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
— |
| Lyme and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,792 13% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$3,056Lowest 54% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden 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% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
14.6%±12.8 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Lyme 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 | — | #124 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Cornwall School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Regional School District 18 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2 |
— | — |
| 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.