The Town Files

Canaan, Connecticut

Town · population 1,080 (2020 Census)

Map: where Canaan is in ConnecticutCanaan
Median home
$469,400
Household income
$89,632
Jan low / Jul high
14° / 85°
Snow a year
75 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
12
Median age
54.2

Canaan is a town of 1,080 people, Connecticut. The median home is worth $469,400, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of Connecticut towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Connecticut towns, quieter than 90% of Connecticut towns.

How Canaan ranks

Percentile among Connecticut towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Connecticut towns.

Canaan lifestyle rankings vs other Connecticut townsRetirement85th pctFamilies38th pctQuiet90th pctWalkability12th pctFirst-time buyersbottomYoung professionals72nd pctVibrancy5th pctHip & trendy89th pctCollege town94th pctUpscale57th pctVacation homes94th pctSeaside characterbottomCyclingbottomTransit86th pctDriving18th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Canaan is worth $469,400, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $89,632, which is more affordable than 15% of Connecticut towns. Median rent is $1,830 a month. 83.8% of households own their home.

Canaan vs county vs typical Connecticut townCanaanCountyTypical Connecticut townHome value$469,400$376,000Household income$89,632$109,167Monthly rent$1,830$1,462
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of Connecticut towns with 500+ people.
HousingCanaanTypical Connecticut town
Median home value$469,400$376,000
Median rent$1,830$1,462
Median household income$89,632$109,167
Home value ÷ income5.2×3.6×
Homeownership83.8%80.3%
Median year built19441969
Seasonal / vacation homes23.7%—

Who lives in Canaan

PeopleCanaanTypical Connecticut town
Median age54.245.0
Age 65 and over27.5%20.6%
Under 1814.6%—
Bachelor's degree or higher49.8%45.8%
Below the poverty line16.0%5.7%
Veterans5.5%—
Born outside the U.S.5.3%—
Work from home29.2%16.8%
Average commute16.8 min27.6 min
Homes with broadband94.8%93.8%

Weather in Canaan

July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.9 inches of snow (typical Connecticut town: 39.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.

Canaan monthly temperatures and precipitation10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing35°14°Jan39°15°Feb47°23°Mar60°33°Apr72°44°May80°53°Jun85°58°Jul82°57°Aug76°49°Sep63°38°Oct51°29°Nov40°20°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue3.017.82.517.53.414.93.43.93.94.84.84.44.74.71.43.54.43.815.0
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Falls Village station (3.2 mi away); snow from Norfolk 2 Sw (4.5 mi).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canaan since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Connecticut town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 10, 1989 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2022.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Canaan by decade11950s31960s31970s11980s01990s12000s02010s32020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2018.

Towns near Canaan

Canaan questions

Is Canaan, Connecticut a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canaan scores better for retirees than 85% of Connecticut towns and quieter than 90%. 27.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.2).

How much does a house cost in Canaan?

The median owner-occupied home in Canaan is valued at $469,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,632, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,830 a month.

What is the weather like in Canaan?

July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 74.9 inches of snow.

Does Canaan get tornadoes?

12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canaan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 10, 1989. The typical Connecticut town has had 8.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Canaan's Census boundary (GEOID 0916010940). Comparisons use the median of Connecticut towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.