Compare towns

Danbury vs Killingly vs West Haven vs Norwalk

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.

MeasureDanburyKillinglyWest HavenNorwalk
People
Population
87,263
17,867Lowest
55,351
92,187Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
0%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
+6.5%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
40.6±1.3Highest
about the CT average
39.5±3
4% below CT
35.8±1.5Lowest
13% below CT
40.6±1Highest
about the CT average
Kids under 18
19.6%±1.4
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±1.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.8%±1.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
West Haven and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±1.2
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
16%±1.3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17%±1
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30.5%
CT: 42.5%
44.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±1
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
13.6%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.7%±0.8
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,393±$6k
13% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$74,382±$5kLowest
22% below CT
$107,616±$7kHighest
12% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$411,200±$12k
12% above CT
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$291,700±$9k
20% below CT
$558,000±$21kHighest
52% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,846±$63
24% above CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,442±$43
3% below CT
$2,073±$87Highest
39% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,877
12% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,941
4% above CT
$7,817Highest
18% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±4.8
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±5.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
52.1%±5.2
CT: 52.6%
West Haven and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
14.1%Highest
CT: 10%
9.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
55.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
8 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
1967
same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
23 minLowest
14% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
12.7%±1.8
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 16%
15.1%±1.4Highest
CT: 16%
Norwalk and Danbury 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 #137 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #120 of 149 in CT #112 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS New Haven School District · West Haven School District Norwalk School District
High school in town Danbury High School Killingly High School West Haven High School Brien McMahon High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.7Highest
11.1Lowest
15.6
14.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.