Compare towns
Norwalk vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Hamden
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).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sterling | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
61,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Hamden 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Norwalk and Sterling 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 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% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 13.5 |
| 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.