Compare towns
Prospect vs Norwalk vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Norwalk has the most renters (44.4% rent).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Prospect | Norwalk | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458Lowest |
92,187Highest |
29,040 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
40.6±1Lowest about the CT average |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$107,616±$7kLowest 12% above CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,398±$116Lowest 6% below CT |
| Norwalk and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$7,755 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Norwalk 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Norwalk School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brien McMahon High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.