What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has the most affordable homes ($295k median).

Norwalk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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	Middletown	Norwalk
People
Population	47,958Lowest	92,187Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9%	+6.5%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT	40.6±1Highest about the CT average
	Norwalk and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%	17%±1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Norwalk and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%	44.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%	6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,412Lowest 3% below CT	$7,817Highest 18% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest CT: 10%	9.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	55.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16%	15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16%
	Norwalk and Middletown 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	#121 of 149 in CT	#112 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services	Norwalk School District
High school in town	Middletown High School	Brien McMahon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	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.