Compare towns
Norwalk vs Bethany vs Stamford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwalk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Stamford has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Norwalk | Bethany | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187 |
5,288Lowest |
137,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +10.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1 about the CT average |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
38.4±0.7Lowest 7% below CT |
| Bethany and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.4%±1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethany and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±0.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7kLowest 12% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$111,586±$5k 17% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$624,400±$12kHighest 70% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87Lowest 39% above CT |
— | $2,276±$58Highest 53% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817Lowest 18% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$9,314Highest 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.8%±3.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stamford and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
48.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±1.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #111 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Stamford School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | None in town | Westhill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.4Lowest |
| 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.