Compare towns
Norwalk vs Windsor 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 housing (typical home built 1967).
Windsor has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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 | Windsor | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187 |
29,468Lowest |
137,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +10.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1 about the CT average |
43.7±1.9Highest 6% above CT |
38.4±0.7Lowest 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.4%±1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
20%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor 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% |
43.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±0.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stamford and Norwalk 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 |
$104,725±$8kLowest 9% above CT |
$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 |
$305,200±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$624,400±$12kHighest 70% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,681±$62Lowest 13% above CT |
$2,276±$58Highest 53% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817 18% above CT |
$5,351Lowest 19% below CT |
$9,314Highest 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.8%±3.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stamford and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
48.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
19.4%±1.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Stamford and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #111 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Stamford School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Windsor High School | Westhill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.2Lowest |
14.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.