What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).

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	Orange
People
Population	92,187Highest	14,315Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest CT: +0.9%	+2.3%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	40.6±1Lowest about the CT average	45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT
Kids under 18	18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2%	22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%	23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%	59.4%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%	5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Norwalk and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,616±$7kLowest 12% above CT	$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT	$491,500±$17kLowest 34% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87Lowest 39% above CT	$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT
	Orange and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Lowest 18% above CT	$8,988Highest 35% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Lowest CT: 52.6%	64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6%
	Orange and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest CT: 10%	3.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	89.2%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 minLowest about the CT average	28 minHighest 4% above CT
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16%
	Orange 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	#38 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	—
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7	—
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.