Compare towns
Westbrook vs Cornwall vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Essex has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
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 | Westbrook | Cornwall | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,856Highest |
1,425Lowest |
6,794 |
| Median age | 58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
52.4±3.6Lowest 27% above CT |
| Westbrook and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Essex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
| Cornwall and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,300±$42kLowest 18% above CT |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$552,000±$53k 50% above CT |
| Cornwall and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$176 4% below CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
| Essex and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829Highest 12% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$5,678Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±17.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Westbrook and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
78.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 19%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Essex 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 | #59 of 149 in CT | — | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Westbrook School District | Cornwall School District | Essex School District |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.3 |
— | — |
| 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.