Compare towns
Norwalk vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Stamford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Stamford has the most renters (51.2% rent).
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 | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187 |
15,141 |
12,579Lowest |
137,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +10.5%Highest 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 |
38.4±0.7 7% below CT |
| 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%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 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%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±0.9Lowest 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% |
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% |
5.9%±1.8 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 |
$81,205±$13k 15% 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±$16k 26% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$624,400±$12kHighest 70% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$2,276±$58Highest 53% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.8%±3.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Stamford 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
10.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
48.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer 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 |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
19.4%±1.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Stamford and Windsor Locks 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #111 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Stamford School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Westhill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
14.4 |
| 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.