What stands out worked out from the figures below

Darien has the most expensive homes ($1822k median).

Norwalk has the most affordable 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	Darien	Norwalk
People
Population	21,936Lowest	92,187Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	40±1.5Lowest about the CT average	40.6±1Highest about the CT average
	Norwalk and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2%	18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	17%±1Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.9%Highest CT: 42.5%	44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	Norwalk and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 161% above CT	$107,616±$7kLowest 12% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT	$558,000±$21kLowest 52% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,501Highest 135% above CT	$2,073±$87Lowest 39% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT	$7,817Lowest 18% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.8%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6%	52.1%±5.2Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Darien and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest CT: 10%	9.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT	1967Highest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above CT	27 minLowest about the CT average
Work from home	35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16%	15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 149 in CT	#112 of 149 in CT
School district	Darien School District	Norwalk School District
High school in town	Darien High School	Brien McMahon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	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.