Compare towns
Norwalk vs Plainfield vs Hamden vs Saugatuck
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 renters (44.4% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Saugatuck has the most expensive homes ($1756k 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 | Plainfield | Hamden | Saugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
15,141 |
61,045 |
2,925Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40.6±1 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
50.7±7.6Highest 23% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.4%±5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Saugatuck and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Saugatuck 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
74.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.3%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$1,756,400±$353kHighest 379% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,213±$219Highest 49% above CT |
| Saugatuck and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
45%±21.6 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
84.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
47 minHighest 78% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
42.7%±12.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School | Hamden High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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.