Compare towns

Windham vs Cornwall vs Columbia

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($555k 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.

MeasureWindhamCornwallColumbia
People
Population
23,961Highest
1,425Lowest
5,300
Median age
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
53.9±5.1Highest
31% above CT
51.3±10.3
25% above CT
Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
14.9%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
14.3%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
29.4%±2.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
24.9%±5.4
CT: 18.5%
Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
59.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
34.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±3
CT: 7.1%
4.8%±2.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% below CT
$128,864±$34kHighest
35% above CT
$127,000±$30k
33% above CT
Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9kLowest
43% below CT
$554,600±$106kHighest
51% above CT
$361,500±$16k
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69Highest
26% below CT
$1,047±$121
30% below CT
$966±$304Lowest
35% below CT
Windham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$5,792Highest
13% below CT
$5,228
21% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
46.8%±31.9
CT: 52.6%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Windham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
20.7%Highest
CT: 10%
8.2%
CT: 10%
6.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
87.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
83.3%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1959
8 yrs older than CT
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below CT
30 min
13% above CT
32 minHighest
21% above CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
32.4%±13.6Highest
CT: 16%
21.6%±6
CT: 16%
Cornwall and Columbia 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 #143 of 149 in CT — #114 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Cornwall School District Columbia School District
High school in town Windham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8
— —
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.