What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chaplin	Norwalk
People
Population	2,070Lowest	92,187Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT	40.6±1Lowest about the CT average
	Chaplin and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2%
	Norwalk and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5%	17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Chaplin and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%	44.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1%	6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Chaplin and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT
	Norwalk and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,524Lowest 32% below CT	$7,817Highest 18% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6%	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest CT: 10%	9.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above CT	27 minLowest about the CT average
Work from home	18.1%±10Highest CT: 16%	15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Chaplin and Norwalk 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	—	#112 of 149 in CT
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Norwalk School District
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Brien McMahon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.