Compare towns
Norwalk vs Killingly vs Danbury vs Darien
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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Danbury has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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.
| Measure | Norwalk | Killingly | Danbury | Darien |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
17,867Lowest |
87,263 |
21,936 |
| 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 |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average |
40±1.5 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Danbury 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
85.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$83,393±$6kLowest 13% below CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,846±$63 24% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,877 12% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8 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% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
39 minHighest 46% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT | #2 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District | Darien School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Killingly High School | Danbury High School | Darien High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
11.1 |
15.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.