Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 12 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $476/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,861)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Homes cost $26k less ($466,300 vs $491,800)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $33,400/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Norwalk
Norwalk, CT
Pros
84% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Households earn $33,400 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$26k less
$466,300 vs $491,800
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$33,400
$97,879 vs $64,479/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
84% lower
85.0 vs 518.1 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 12 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Arden-Arcade to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $491,800 median home), income ($64,479 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Norwalk, CT are about 2,518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.