Compare towns
Norwalk vs Willimantic vs Hamden 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 oldest population (median age 40.6).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Willimantic | Hamden | Darien |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
18,096Lowest |
61,045 |
21,936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Lowest 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±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%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±2.1 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% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
85.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Darien and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
39 minHighest 46% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
35.5%±6.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 149 in CT | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #2 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Darien School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | — | Hamden High School | Darien High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 13.5 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.