Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 14 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($198,900 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $706/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,860)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $49,418/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,418 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.6%)
27% less violent crime than Hartford
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Hartford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$394k less
$198,900 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$49,418
$91,259 vs $41,841/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
27% lower
374.4 vs 515.8 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 76.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 14 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 9 and Norwalk wins 14. 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 Hartford to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $593,100 median home), income ($41,841 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Norwalk, CA are about 2,506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.