What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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	Sterling
People
Population	92,187Highest	3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	40.6±1Highest about the CT average	39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT
	Norwalk and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2%	22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2%
	Sterling and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1Highest CT: 18.5%	13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Norwalk and Sterling 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%	18%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%	3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT	$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT
	Norwalk and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT	$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87 39% above CT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Highest 18% above CT	$4,551Lowest 31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%	32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest CT: 10%	8.3%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	81.1%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	35 minHighest 34% above CT
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16%	11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Norwalk and Sterling 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	#119 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	Sterling School District
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7	—
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.