What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).

Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).

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	Norwalk	Brooklyn
People
Population	92,187Highest	8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	40.6±1Lowest about the CT average	45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT
Kids under 18	18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2%
	Brooklyn and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%	17.6%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5%
	Brooklyn 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%	5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Norwalk and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT	$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average
	Norwalk and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT	$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT	$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Highest 18% above CT	$4,538Lowest 32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%	38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest CT: 10%	2.3%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	81.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	27 minLowest about the CT average
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16%	10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Norwalk and Brooklyn 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	#112 of 149 in CT	#113 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	Brooklyn School District
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7	—
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.