Compare towns
Norwalk vs Sterling vs Darien
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 most renters (44.4% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Darien has the most expensive homes ($1822k 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 | Sterling | Darien |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
3,629Lowest |
21,936 |
| 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 |
40±1.5 about the CT average |
| Norwalk and Darien 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%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Darien and Sterling 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% |
13.7%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
85.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87Lowest 39% above CT |
— | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Darien and Norwalk 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% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 min 34% above CT |
39 minHighest 46% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #2 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Sterling School District | Darien School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | None in town | Darien High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.