Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Norwalk
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879
Violent Crime Index
22
Population
91,050 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($393,700 vs $491,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $11,389 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Norwalk
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Median income trails Germantown by $11,389/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$11,389
$109,268 vs $97,879/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$98k less
$393,700 vs $491,800
Germantown
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Norwalk
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,861⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $97,879 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 42 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 22 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 72 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 91,050 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 12 and Norwalk wins 8. 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 Germantown to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $491,800 median home), income ($109,268 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Norwalk, CT are about 242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.