Compare towns
Norwalk vs Darien vs Danbury
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).
Darien has the most expensive homes ($1822k median).
Danbury has the most affordable homes ($411k 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.
| Measure | Norwalk | Darien | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
21,936Lowest |
87,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
40±1.5Lowest about the CT average |
40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Danbury 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% CT: 42.5% |
85.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Danbury and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
$83,393±$6kLowest 13% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
$411,200±$12kLowest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,846±$63Lowest 24% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,877Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
39 minHighest 46% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | #2 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Darien School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Darien High School | Danbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
10.7Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| 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.