What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k 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	Plainville	Norwalk
People
Population	17,551Lowest	92,187Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT	40.6±1Lowest about the CT average
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2%
	Norwalk and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5%	17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Plainville and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest CT: 42.5%	44.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	Norwalk and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT	$7,817Highest 18% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest CT: 10%	9.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16%	15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 149 in CT	#112 of 149 in CT
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Norwalk School District
High school in town	Plainville High School	Brien McMahon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.7Highest
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.