What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwalk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

Middletown has the most affordable homes ($295k 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	Middletown
People
Population	92,187Highest	47,958Lowest
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	38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT
	Norwalk and Middletown 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%	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	17%±1Highest CT: 18.5%	16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Norwalk and Middletown 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%	40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT	$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT	$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT	$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Highest 18% above CT	$6,412Lowest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%	47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Middletown 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%	12%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	23 minLowest 12% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16%	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Norwalk and Middletown 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	#121 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.8Lowest
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.