Compare towns
Norwalk vs Plainfield vs Stamford
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 oldest population (median age 40.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stamford has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187 |
15,141Lowest |
137,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +10.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.4±0.7 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.4%±1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield 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% |
51.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±0.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stamford and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$111,586±$5kHighest 17% above CT |
| Stamford and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$624,400±$12kHighest 70% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,276±$58Highest 53% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$9,314Highest 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.8%±3.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stamford and Norwalk 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
48.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±1.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #111 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Stamford School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School | Westhill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
14.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.