Compare towns
Norwalk vs Killingly vs Middletown vs Manchester
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).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Middletown | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
17,867Lowest |
47,958 |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Norwalk and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Manchester 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Norwalk and Manchester 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #135 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 · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Killingly High School | Middletown High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.