Compare towns
Windham vs Cornwall vs Columbia vs Ansonia
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 affordable homes ($210k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Ansonia has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
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 | Windham | Cornwall | Columbia | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961Highest |
1,425Lowest |
5,300 |
19,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
| 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% |
18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest 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% |
6.2%±1.8 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 |
$85,877±$10k 10% below 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 |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,047±$121 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,792Highest 13% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$5,446 18% 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% |
39.7%±10 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% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
58.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9 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 | #142 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 12.2Highest |
| 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.