The Town FilesNew Canaan, Connecticut
Town · population 20,622 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,611,900
- Household income
- $250,001
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.1
New Canaan is a town of 20,622 people, Connecticut. The median home is worth $1,611,900, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). It ranks more upscale than 97% of Connecticut towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Connecticut towns, better transit than 86% of Connecticut towns.
How New 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.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in New Canaan is worth $1,611,900, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $250,001, which is more affordable than 7% of Connecticut towns. Median rent is $3,401 a month. 83.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Canaan | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,611,900 | $376,000 |
| Median rent | $3,401 | $1,462 |
| Median household income | $250,001 | $109,167 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 83.7% | 80.3% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in New Canaan
| People | New Canaan | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 45.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 20.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 82.5% | 45.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.6% | — |
| Work from home | 35.1% | 16.8% |
| Average commute | 38.0 min | 27.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 93.8% |
Weather in New Canaan
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.0 inches of snow (typical Connecticut town: 39.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Canaan since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Connecticut town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 12, 2006 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 21, 2010.
Public schools in New Canaan
5 public schools with 4,094 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saxe Middle School | 5-8 | 1,261 | 11.1 |
| New Canaan High School | 8-12 | 1,257 | 12.2 |
| East School | K-4 | 570 | 12.4 |
| South School | K-4 | 507 | 11.3 |
| West School | PK-4 | 499 | 13.1 |
Towns near New Canaan
- New Canaan, CT1.4 mi · 6,220 people · home $1,099,400
- Wilton, CT4.7 mi · 18,503 people · home $928,800
- Pound Ridge, NY5.6 mi · 5,082 people · home $1,114,500
- Noroton Heights, CT6.0 mi · 3,116 people · home $1,225,400
- Stamford, CT6.1 mi · 135,470 people · home $624,400
- Norwalk, CT6.3 mi · 91,184 people · home $558,000
- Old Hill, CT6.3 mi · 2,676 people · home $1,479,400
- Noroton, CT7.1 mi · 5,317 people · home $1,620,000
New Canaan questions
Is New Canaan, Connecticut a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Canaan scores better for retirees than 54% of Connecticut towns and quieter than 19%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in New Canaan?
The median owner-occupied home in New Canaan is valued at $1,611,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $250,001, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $3,401 a month.
What is the weather like in New Canaan?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 34.0 inches of snow.
Does New Canaan get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Canaan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 12, 2006. The typical Connecticut town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)