Compare towns
New Preston vs 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
New Preston has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | New Preston | Cornwall | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
1,425Highest |
1,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.8±12.8Lowest 26% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
54.2±3.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Canaan and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±7Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| New Preston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
27.5%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
49.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$89,632±$25k 6% below CT |
| Cornwall and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$43kLowest 23% above CT |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% 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±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 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 | 15.8% CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1944Lowest 23 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.3%±28 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
29.2%±13.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Cornwall School District | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school 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 |
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.