What are the schools like in Norwalk, CT?

Norwalk is served primarily by Norwalk School District. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Norwalk?

The median household income in Norwalk, CT is $97,879 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.9%.

What is the weather like in Norwalk, CT?

Norwalk has an average high temperature of 38.0°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.0 inches.

Norwalk, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Norwalk, CT affordable or expensive?

Norwalk's cost of living index is 106, where 100 represents the national average. This means Norwalk is 6% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $491,800 and the median rent is $1,861 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Norwalk, CT?

Norwalk has a violent crime rate of 85.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1504.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Norwalk, CT a Good Place to Live?

Norwalk is a mid-sized city of 91,050 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $97,879 and a 5.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: Norwalk stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Norwalk is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Norwalk city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 106.5

Norwalk's overall cost of living index is 106.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Norwalk costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric	Norwalk, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$491,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,861	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	54.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$97,879	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Norwalk's violent crime rate is 85.0 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

85.0 /100k

Property Crime

1504.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Norwalk is served primarily by Norwalk School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Norwalk, CT	National Avg
School District	Norwalk School District	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	42.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Norwalk sees average highs of 38.0°F in January and 84.8°F in July, with 51.4 inches of annual precipitation and 34.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Norwalk, CT
Average High — January	38.0°F
Average High — July	84.8°F
Annual Precipitation	51.4"
Annual Snowfall	34.0"

Demographics

Metric	Norwalk, CT	National Avg
Population	91,050	—
Median Age	40.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	54.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	17.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	19.7%	18.9%
Asian	4.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.4%	22.2%
65 and over	15.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Darien Downtown, CT 3 mi Saugatuck, CT 3 mi Tokeneke, CT 4 mi Compo, CT 4 mi Noroton Heights, CT 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Norwalk

Norwalk, CT is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

06851 06850 06854 06855 06853

Norwalk vs Other Cities

Norwalk, CT vs Darien Downtown, CT Norwalk, CT vs Saugatuck, CT Norwalk, CT vs Tokeneke, CT Norwalk, CT vs Compo, CT Norwalk, CT vs Noroton Heights, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Norwalk, CT affordable or expensive?

Norwalk's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts Norwalk roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $491,800 and median rent is $1,861/month.

What is the crime rate in Norwalk, CT?

Norwalk's violent crime rate is 85.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1504.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Norwalk?

Public schools in Norwalk are operated by Norwalk School District. The district has 13 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 42.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Norwalk, CT a good place to live?

Norwalk, CT has a population of 91,050, a median household income of $97,879, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Norwalk?

Norwalk averages 38.0°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.4 inches with about 34.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Norwalk?

Norwalk, CT is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 06851, 06850, 06854, 06855, 06853.

What is the population of Norwalk?

The population of Norwalk, Connecticut is 91,050 with a median age of 40.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Norwalk?

Key numbers for living in Norwalk: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $491,800, median household income $97,879, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Norwalk side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.