Compare towns
Norwalk vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Windham | Hamden | Darien |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
23,961 |
61,045 |
21,936Lowest |
| 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 |
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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
30.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest 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% |
22.7%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% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Hamden 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 |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$1,822,400±$171kHighest 397% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 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% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Darien and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
39 minHighest 46% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 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 · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Darien School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Windham High School | Hamden High School | Darien High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
13.5 |
10.7 |
| 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.