What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwalk has the most homeowners (55.6%).

Stamford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Norwalk	Stamford
People
Population	92,187Lowest	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	38.4±0.7Lowest 7% below CT
Kids under 18	18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2%	18.4%±1Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Norwalk and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1Highest CT: 18.5%	16.2%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Norwalk and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%	51.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Lowest 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±$7kLowest 12% above 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±$21kLowest 52% above CT	$624,400±$12kHighest 70% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87Lowest 39% above CT	$2,276±$58Highest 53% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Lowest 18% above CT	$9,314Highest 40% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10%	10.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	48.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	29 minHighest 8% above CT
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	19.4%±1.5Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#112 of 149 in CT	#111 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Stamford School District
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	Westhill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	14.4Lowest
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.