What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

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

Measure	Madison	Norwalk
People
Population	17,616Lowest	92,187Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT	40.6±1Lowest about the CT average
Kids under 18	18.1%±2.2Lowest 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+	25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5%	17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.4%Highest CT: 42.5%	44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	Norwalk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT	$107,616±$7kLowest 12% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT	$558,000±$21kLowest 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	$2,025±$741Lowest 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	$8,843Highest 33% above CT	$7,817Lowest 18% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest CT: 10%	9.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above CT	27 minLowest about the CT average
Work from home	30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16%	15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 149 in CT	#112 of 149 in CT
School district	Madison School District	Norwalk School District
High school in town	Daniel Hand High School	Brien McMahon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	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.