Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 17 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
South Gate
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
84% less violent crime than South Gate
Households earn $30,691 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Homes cost $87k less ($491,800 vs $578,900)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,861)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $30,691/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$30,691
$97,879 vs $67,188/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
84% lower
85.0 vs 525.6 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$87k less
$491,800 vs $578,900
Norwalk
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 92,381 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 17 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 17 and South Gate wins 6. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $578,900 median home), income ($97,879 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and South Gate, CA are about 2,475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.