Living in New Canaan, CT
New Canaan is a Fairfield County town of 22.19 square miles bordering Wilton, Stamford, Norwalk and Darien, with a Metro-North line, the Glass House and several nature preserves.
New Canaan at a glance
- Median sale price
- $2,450,000+16.7% vs last year 279 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 16.97 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$29,100 median-priced home
- Population
- 21,160 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 22.2 sq mi 954 per sq mi
What it is like in New Canaan
New Canaan covers 22.19 square miles in Fairfield County and had 21,160 residents in the facts file. It borders Wilton, Stamford, Norwalk and Darien.
Downtown is centered on Elm Street, with Forest Street and Main Street nearby. The Glass House, Philip Johnson's 1949 house, offers tours that start at the Visitor Center + Design Store at 199 Elm Street.
The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society runs a campus of historic buildings at 13 Oenoke Ridge Road, including the 18th-century Hanford-Silliman House and the 1960 Gores Pavilion. The Silvermine Arts Center on Silvermine Road dates to the Silvermine Guild of Artists, founded in 1922.
Town parks and preserves include Waveny Park, Mead Memorial Park, Kiwanis Park, Irwin Park, Deer Park and Cobblers Green. The New Canaan Nature Center, Kelly Lowland Sanctuary, Browning Wildlife Sanctuary, Still Pond Preserve and the Old Stamford Road Bird Sanctuary are also in town.
Downtown has restaurants on Elm, Forest and Main Streets, including Elm Restaurant, Locali Pizza Bar + Kitchen, Gates Restaurant, Hashi Sushi and Pesca Peruvian Bistro. Le Pain Quotidien serves pastries and coffee on Elm Street. The Silvermine Arts Center holds gallery exhibitions Tuesday to Saturday.
Getting around from New Canaan
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 95 min | 70 |
| New Haven | 55 min | 37 |
| Stamford | 21 min | 11 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 74 min | 46 |
| Boston | 214 min | 169 |
| Providence | 178 min | 141 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 117 min | 86 |
Rail stations nearby
- New Canaan 1 mi Metro-North
- Talmadge Hill 3 mi Metro-North
- Merritt 7 3.9 mi Metro-North
Highways and routes
The New Canaan Metro-North station is 1 mile straight line from the town center in the facts file, and Talmadge Hill (3 miles) and Merritt 7 (3.9 miles) are also served by Metro-North.
By road, Stamford is 11 miles (21 minutes), New Haven 37 miles (55 minutes), Midtown Manhattan 46 miles (74 minutes) and Hartford 70 miles (95 minutes). Bradley Airport is 86 miles (117 minutes) away.
Schools in New Canaan
5 public schools in New Canaan School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 3
- East
- South
- West
Middle 1
- Saxe
High school 1
- New Canaan High School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up New Canaan School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in New Canaan
Open New Canaan in Google Maps →Eat and drink 11
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American restaurant on Elm Street with a seasonal menu and a wine and cocktail list.
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Casual American restaurant on Forest Street serving burgers, salads and comfort food, open since 1979.
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Japanese restaurant serving sushi rolls, udon soups and hibachi dinners.
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Belgian bakery and cafe on Elm Street serving pastries, coffee, breakfast and lunch.
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Neapolitan-style pizza, small plates and pasta, with patio seating at Forest Street and Locust Avenue.
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Italian restaurant and bar with a modern take on northern and southern dishes, opened on Elm Street in 2025.
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European-style bakery and cafe selling pastries, cookies, sandwiches, soups and salads on Elm Street.
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Peruvian restaurant on Main Street with a seafood menu, including empanadas and lomo saltado.
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French patisserie and cafe with croissants, macarons, baguettes, sandwiches and coffee on Main Street.
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Restaurant on Elm Street that reopened in October 2026 after a kitchen fire.
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Contemporary American restaurant and bar with a New England accent, serving lunch and dinner.
Things to do and see 3
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Museum campus of historic buildings including the Hanford-Silliman House, open Tuesday to Saturday.
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Art center and school founded in 1922 as the Silvermine Guild of Artists, with gallery exhibitions Tuesday to Saturday.
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Philip Johnson's 1949 house and grounds, toured from the Visitor Center on Elm Street by shuttle, Thursday to Monday.
Parks, preserves and trails 19
Show 5 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
New Canaan housing market
Over the last 12 months, 279 homes sold in New Canaan with a median sale price of $2,450,000 and a median of 15 days on market. There are 52 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $623 per square foot. The typical home sold for 103% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 16.7% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2.2 months.
New Canaan's town-wide property tax rate is 16.97 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $29,100 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in New Canaan
See all 52 →
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Questions about New Canaan
What is the median home price in New Canaan, CT?
The median sale price in New Canaan is $2,450,000, based on 279 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in New Canaan, CT?
New Canaan's town-wide property tax rate is 16.97 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $29,100 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is New Canaan, CT from Hartford?
New Canaan is about 70 miles and a 95-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is New Canaan, CT from New York City?
New Canaan is about 46 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 74-minute drive without traffic.
Is there a train station in New Canaan, CT?
The closest passenger rail station we have on record is New Canaan (Metro-North) about 1 miles from the center of New Canaan. Check the operator's schedule for current service.
What is the population of New Canaan, CT?
New Canaan has about 21,160 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 22.2 square miles.
How many public schools are in New Canaan, CT?
New Canaan has 5 public schools in New Canaan School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in New Canaan, CT?
There are 52 homes for sale in New Canaan right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
Is there a train station in New Canaan?
Yes. The New Canaan Metro-North station is in town. Talmadge Hill and Merritt 7 are 3 and 3.9 miles away.
How far is New Canaan from New York City?
Midtown Manhattan is 46 miles and about 74 minutes by road.
How do I tour the Glass House?
Tours start at the Visitor Center + Design Store at 199 Elm Street and use a shuttle to the site. Advance reservations are recommended. The 2026 season runs April 16 to December 14, Thursday to Monday.
What parks and preserves are in New Canaan?
Waveny Park, Mead Memorial Park, the New Canaan Nature Center, Kelly Lowland Sanctuary, Browning Wildlife Sanctuary and Still Pond Preserve, among others.
Which towns border New Canaan?
Wilton, Stamford, Norwalk and Darien.
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