Compare towns
Norwalk vs Windham vs Hamden vs Stamford
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 most homeowners (62.4%).
Stamford has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Windham | Hamden | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 92,187 |
23,961Lowest |
61,045 |
137,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +10.5%Highest 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 |
38.4±0.7 7% below CT |
| Norwalk and Hamden 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%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.4%±1 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%±1 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±0.9 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% |
51.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±0.6 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 |
$111,586±$5kHighest 17% above CT |
| Stamford and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$624,400±$12kHighest 70% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,276±$58Highest 53% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$9,314Highest 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.8%±3.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Stamford 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
10.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
48.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
19.4%±1.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Stamford and Hamden 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #111 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Stamford School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Windham High School | Hamden High School | Westhill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
13.5 |
14.4 |
| 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.