Compare towns
Norwalk vs Stamford vs Hamden
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 oldest population (median age 40.6).
Stamford has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k 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 | Stamford | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187 |
137,144Highest |
61,045Lowest |
| 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 |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
| Norwalk and Hamden 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% |
18.4%±1 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest 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%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±0.6 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$111,586±$5kHighest 17% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$624,400±$12kHighest 70% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$2,276±$58Highest 53% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$9,314Highest 40% above CT |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
52.8%±3.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
48.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±1.5Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Stamford and Hamden 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 | #111 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Stamford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Westhill High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
14.4 |
13.5Lowest |
| 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.