Compare towns
Norwalk vs Willimantic vs Hamden vs Danbury
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 expensive homes ($558k median).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Hamden has the most homeowners (62.4%).
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 | Willimantic | Hamden | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
18,096Lowest |
61,045 |
87,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
| Norwalk and Hamden 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,846±$63 24% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$5,877 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Norwalk 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | — | Hamden High School | Danbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | 13.5Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.