Compare towns
Sharon vs Cornwall vs Salisbury vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Sharon | Cornwall | Salisbury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,723 |
1,425Lowest |
4,224Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
44.2±9.9Lowest 8% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±6.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
28.1%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Lowest 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+ | 56.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.8% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cornwall and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$124,256±$26k 30% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Cornwall and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $590,700±$156k 61% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
$442,200±$25kLowest 21% above CT |
| Salisbury and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Salisbury and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$5,125 23% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
68.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
20 minLowest 25% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
28%±8 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Salisbury 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 | — | — | #19 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Cornwall School District | Salisbury School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.