Compare towns
Norwalk vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Darien
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 youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Darien has the most expensive homes ($1822k 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 | Windsor Locks | Darien |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
15,141 |
12,579Lowest |
21,936 |
| 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 |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
40±1.5 about the CT average |
| Windsor Locks and Norwalk 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks and Norwalk 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% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
85.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk and Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Darien and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
39 minHighest 46% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #2 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Darien School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Darien High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.