What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k 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	Hamden
People
Population	92,187Highest	61,045Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	40.6±1Highest about the CT average	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT
	Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2%	17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Hamden 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%	47.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT	$98,306±$7kLowest 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	$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT	$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Highest 18% above CT	$7,784Lowest 17% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%	50.9%±5.4Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10%	9.3%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	62.4%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	22 minLowest 18% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Lowest 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	#122 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	Hamden High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	13.5Lowest
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.