Compare towns
Norwalk vs Putnam vs Westport
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 youngest population (median age 40.6).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Westport has the most people working from home (41.5%).
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 | Putnam | Westport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
9,292Lowest |
27,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.6±1Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.4±1.5Highest 10% above CT |
| Westport and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.9%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
79.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.2%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$1,405,200±$124kHighest 283% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,509±$709Highest 69% above CT |
| Westport 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.8%±11 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
41 minHighest 54% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
41.5%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #3 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Putnam School District | Westport School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Putnam High School | Staples High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.