The Town FilesNorth Canaan, Connecticut
Town · population 3,211 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,300
- Household income
- $71,976
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 35.7
North Canaan is a town of 3,211 people, Connecticut. The median home is worth $267,300, below the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Connecticut towns, hipper than 73% of Connecticut towns.
How North 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 North Canaan is worth $267,300, below the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $71,976, which is more affordable than 46% of Connecticut towns. Median rent is $1,146 a month. 61.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Canaan | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,300 | $376,000 |
| Median rent | $1,146 | $1,462 |
| Median household income | $71,976 | $109,167 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 61.7% | 80.3% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North Canaan
| People | North Canaan | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 45.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 20.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 45.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 16.8% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 27.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 93.8% |
Weather in North Canaan
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 52.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.9 inches of snow (typical Connecticut town: 39.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Canaan since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Connecticut town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 30, 1976 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2018.
Public schools in North Canaan
1 public school with 244 students, about 8.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Canaan Elementary School | PK-8 | 244 | 8.7 |
Towns near North Canaan
- Sheffield, MA6.6 mi · 3,327 people · home $409,400
- Salisbury, CT7.0 mi · 4,194 people · home $763,700
- Winchester, CT11.6 mi · 10,224 people · home $249,500
- Goshen, CT12.2 mi · 3,150 people · home $482,400
- Winsted, CT13.4 mi · 7,192 people · home $218,900
- Sharon, CT13.6 mi · 2,680 people · home $590,700
- North East, NY13.9 mi · 2,971 people · home $334,000
- Great Barrington, MA14.0 mi · 7,172 people · home $494,300
North Canaan questions
Is North Canaan, Connecticut a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Canaan scores better for retirees than 51% of Connecticut towns and quieter than 24%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in North Canaan?
The median owner-occupied home in North Canaan is valued at $267,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,976, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,146 a month.
What is the weather like in North Canaan?
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.9 inches of precipitation a year and 74.9 inches of snow.
Does North Canaan get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Canaan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 30, 1976. 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)