Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Round Rock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888
Violent Crime Index
34
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
35% less violent crime than Round Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Households earn $5,991 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Round Rock
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($337,500 vs $491,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $275/mo less ($1,586 vs $1,861)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $5,991/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$5,991
$97,879 vs $91,888/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
35% lower
85.0 vs 130.7 per 100k
Round Rock
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$154k less
$337,500 vs $491,800
Round Rock
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,586⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $91,888 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 34 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 120,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 8 and Round Rock wins 15. 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 Norwalk to Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $337,500 median home), income ($97,879 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Round Rock, TX are about 1,535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.