Compare towns
Hamden vs Madison vs Norwalk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Norwalk has the most renters (44.4% rent).
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.
| Measure | Hamden | Madison | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
17,616Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwalk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
| Madison and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Norwalk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Madison School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Daniel Hand High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
9.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.