Compare towns
Cornwall vs Vernon vs Sharon 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 highest household income ($129k).
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).
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 | Vernon | Sharon | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,425 |
30,577Highest |
2,723 |
1,175Lowest |
| Median age | 53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
54.2±3.2 32% above CT |
| Sharon and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Vernon and Cornwall 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
27.5%±1.9 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% |
38%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.8% CT: 42.5% |
49.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Vernon 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 |
$85,356±$6kLowest 11% below CT |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$89,632±$25k 6% below 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 |
$275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$469,400±$33k 28% 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 |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
| Canaan and Sharon 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 |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan and Sharon 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% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1954 13 yrs older than CT |
1944Lowest 23 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 min 13% above CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 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 | — | #107 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Cornwall School District | Vernon School District | Sharon School District | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Rockville High School | None in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| 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.