Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
West Covina
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
64% less violent crime than West Covina
Homes cost $173k less ($491,800 vs $664,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
West Covina, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.9%)
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$1,660
$97,879 vs $96,219/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
64% lower
85.0 vs 239.3 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$173k less
$491,800 vs $664,500
Norwalk
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | West Covina, 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 | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 108,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 39.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 15 and West Covina 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 Norwalk to West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $664,500 median home), income ($97,879 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and West Covina, CA are about 2,457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.