Compare towns
Norwalk vs Brooklyn vs Killingly vs Hamden
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 most expensive homes ($558k median).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Brooklyn | Killingly | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
8,517Lowest |
17,867 |
61,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40.6±1 about the CT average |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Killingly 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%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Norwalk and Hamden 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±$28k 14% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 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 | 9.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Norwalk 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.