What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwalk	Putnam
People
Population	92,187Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	40.6±1Lowest about the CT average	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
	Putnam and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Norwalk and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT	$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Highest 18% above CT	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest CT: 10%	11.5%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	25 minLowest 6% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#112 of 149 in CT	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	Putnam School District
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	9.5Lowest
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.