What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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	Windham
People
Population	92,187Highest	23,961Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	40.6±1Highest about the CT average	33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT
Kids under 18	18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2%
	Windham 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%	14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Norwalk and Windham 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%	22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT	$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT	$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT	$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,817Highest 18% above CT	$4,633Lowest 30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±5.2Lowest CT: 52.6%	57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6%
	Windham 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%	20.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	24 minLowest 8% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16%	6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#112 of 149 in CT	#143 of 149 in CT
School district	Norwalk School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town	Brien McMahon High School	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	9.8Lowest
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.