Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Allen leads 19 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28
Population
105,444 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($390,200 vs $491,800)
Households earn $23,380 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Median income trails Allen by $23,380/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$23,380
$121,259 vs $97,879/yr
Allen
Median Home Value
$102k less
$390,200 vs $491,800
Allen
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Violent Crime
20% lower
85.0 vs 106.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $97,879 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 42 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Allen is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 19 of 23 categories. Allen wins 19 and Norwalk wins 4. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $491,800 median home), income ($121,259 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Norwalk, CT are about 1,390 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.