What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Darien has the most expensive homes ($1822k median).

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	Darien
People
Population	92,187Highest	21,936Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	40.6±1Highest about the CT average	40±1.5Lowest about the CT average
	Norwalk and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2%	30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	17%±1Highest CT: 18.5%	13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%	85.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%	4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Norwalk and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,616±$7kLowest 12% above CT	$250,001Highest 161% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,000±$21kLowest 52% above CT	$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87Lowest 39% above CT	$3,501Highest 135% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Lowest 18% above CT	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Lowest CT: 52.6%	60.8%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Darien and Norwalk 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%	5.8%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	82.4%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	39 minHighest 46% above CT
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#112 of 149 in CT	#2 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	Darien School District
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	Darien High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	10.7Lowest
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.