Compare towns
Cornwall vs Meriden vs Sharon
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 affordable homes ($241k median).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).
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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,425Lowest |
60,545Highest |
2,723 |
| 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 |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
| Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon 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% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest 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±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
| Cornwall and Sharon 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 |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
| Sharon 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 |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
| Sharon and Meriden 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 |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±31.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District |
| 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 |
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.