Are you thinking of living in Norwalk, CT? Norwalk has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, like any other place. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of living in Norwalk, to help you decide if Norwalk is the right town for you.
Pros of Living in Norwalk, CT
1. Easy Commute to NYC
For commuters to NYC, Norwalk is a great place to live in. The town has not one, not two, but three Metro North train stations!
The Metro North train ride from Norwalk to NYC is an hour and 10 minutes from the South Norwalk station.
2. Affordability
While many Connecticut towns in Fairfield County come with a hefty price tag, Norwalk offers an exception. It’s known for being one of the most affordable Connecticut towns that is commutable to NYC. You can enjoy the best of both worlds without breaking the bank!
The median home price in Norwalk is $530,865.
3. Shop and Restaurants
Norwalk is a major hub for shopping and restaurants. The SoNo Collection mall is for upscale retail therapy, while Connecticut Avenue offers the convenience of big-box stores for your everyday needs.
When it comes to dining, Washington Street in South Norwalk is a culinary haven with lots of restaurants and cafes to satisfy every craving.
4. The Beach Lifestyle
Living in Norwalk means you can savor the beach lifestyle to the fullest. The town has many beaches, so whether you’re into sunbathing, swimming, or just taking in the sea breeze, there is a beach for you.
5. Lots of Housing Options
One of the best things about living in Norwalk is that you have a good variety of housing options. Whether you are looking to live in an apartment, townhouse, starter home, or waterfront condominium, you will find it in Norwalk.
Cons of Living in Norwalk, CT
1. Traffic
Traffic congestion on I-95 can slow to a crawl during rush hour. It’s a problem that is not unique to Norwalk, most of Connecticut that is connected via I-95 encounters this traffic!
Somehow the Norwalk exits are particularly notorious for being congested!
2. Old Housing Stock
Brand new construction in a planned community is not very common in Norwalk.
When you buy a house in Norwalk, chances are you will most likely be buying a renovated home or you will most likely have to do some home renovation to get the house to your liking.
Check out list of the Best Places to Live in Connecticut
Why Norwalk is a Great Place to Live in
Imagine a town in Fairfield County where homes are affordable and is an easy commute to NYC. Look no further than Norwalk!
Living in Norwalk means you enjoy the close proximity to NYC and the coastal Connecticut lifestyle without the high cost typically associated with Fairfield County.
Check out the video of Norwalk, CT:
Living in Norwalk, CT: FAQ
What is the population of Norwalk, CT?
The population of Norwalk, CT is approximately 91,184 with a median age of 40.4 years old.
Are Norwalk Residents Well Educated?
43% of Norwalk residents have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher. Compare this to overall Connecticut where 39% of CT residents have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
Is Norwalk Diverse?
72.4% of Norwalk residents are white, 5.5% of Norwalk residents are Asians, 24.8% of Norwalk residents are Hispanic and 14.7% of Norwalk residents are African Americans.
Are there a lot of families living in Norwalk, CT?
Most households in Norwalk are families which make up 64.9% of all households. The average family size in Norwalk is 3.23. 17.6% of Norwalk residents are children under 18 years old and 4.7% of Norwalk residents are under 5 years old.
Are there are lot of Stay at Home Moms in Norwalk?
Most households in Norwalk are dual income households. There are 54% of married households in Norwalk with both parents working, 26% of married households in Norwalk have Stay at Home Moms and 4.9% of married households in Norwalk have Stay at Home Dads.
Are there are a lot of Singles in Norwalk?
There are a lot of singles in Norwalk. Married couples represent 45.9% of all households in Norwalk while single households represent 54.1% of all households in Norwalk. Of the single households, 35.1% are singles without kids, 11.7% are single mom households and 7.3% single dad households.
Is there a Large Senior Citizen Population in Norwalk, CT?
15% of Norwalk residents are seniors aged 65 years old and older. Compare this to overall Connecticut where 18% of Connecticut residents are seniors aged 65 years old and older.
What is the Average Income of Norwalk Residents?
Norwalk has a median household income of $85,769. Compare this to overall Connecticut where the median household income is $78,444.
How Many Cars do Norwalk Residents own?
34.7% of Norwalk households own 1 car, 36.3% of Norwalk households own 2 cars and 22.1% of Norwalk households own 3 or more cars.
Are there a lot of rentals in Norwalk?
Compared to other towns in Fairfield County, there are a lot of rentals in Norwalk. 54.8% of homes in Norwalk are owner-occupied housing and 45.2% of homes in Norwalk are rentals.
How Much Is Rent in Norwalk, CT?
The median gross rent in Norwalk is $1,685. Compare this to overall Connecticut where the median gross rent is $1,180.
What is the Median Home Value in Norwalk, CT?
The Median Home Value of owner-occupied homes in Norwalk is $435,800.
What County is Norwalk, CT located in?
Norwalk, CT is in Fairfield County.
How Big is Norwalk, CT?
Norwalk is 22.9 square miles.
How Long is the Average Commute to Work for Norwalk Residents?
The mean travel time to work for Norwalk residents is 28 minutes. Compare this to overall Connecticut where the average time to work is 27 minutes.
What is the Property Tax Rate in Norwalk, CT?
Every town in Connecticut sets its own property tax rate (mill rate). To get Norwalk’s mill rate, check out our article: Connecticut Mill Rates: Town by Town List
How to Calculate Connecticut Property Taxes
Use our Calculator to Compute Your Property Taxes: How to calculate Property taxes in Connecticut?
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How Much is the Real Estate Transfer Tax in Connecticut?
Selling Your Home in Connecticut? Use our Calculator to compute the transfer tax: Connecticut Real Estate Transfer Tax Calculator
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Schools in Norwalk, CT
Norwalk residents are districted to attend Norwalk Public Schools. There are 2 Preschools, 11 elementary schools, 1 K-8, 4 middle schools and 1 High Schools.
What are the Schools for Rowayton Residents?
Rowayton residents are districted to attend Norwalk Public schools. For elementary school, Rowayton residents attend Rowayton Elementary school then they move on to the Norwalk Middle Schools and High Schools.
What are the Preschools in Norwalk?
There are 2 public Norwalk Preschools- Norwalk Early Childhood Center and School Readiness- Preschool.
What are the Elementary Schools in Norwalk?
Here are the Norwalk Elementary Schools:
- Brookside Elementary School
- Cranbury Elementary School
- Fox Run Elementary School
- Jefferson Elementary School
- Kendall College and Career Academy
- Marvin Elementary School
- Naramake Elementary School
- Rowayton Elementary School
- Silvermine Dual Magnet Elementary School
- Tracey Magnet School
- Wolfpit Elementary School
- CMS K-8
What are the Middle Schools in Norwalk?
The middle schools in Norwalk are:
- CMS K-8
- Nathan Hale Middle School
- Roton Middle School
- Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy
- West Rocks Middle School
What are the High Schools in Norwalk?
The high schools in Norwalk are:
- Brian McMahon High School
- Center for Global Studies
- Norwalk High School
- P-TECH Norwalk
Is there School Bus Transportation in Norwalk?
Norwalk residents have school bus transportation. School Bus transportation is provided for Norwalk Public School students who meet the following criteria:
- Norwalk Public School Students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 who live more than 1 mile from the school are eligible for school bus transportation
- Norwalk Public School Students in Grade 4 through Grade 8 who live more than 1 1/2 miles from the school are eligible for school bus transportation
- Norwalk Public School Students in Grade 9 through Grade 12 who live more than 2 miles from school are eligible for school bus transportation
Which Metro North Train station is closest to Norwalk?
Norwalk residents can take the train from the East Norwalk Metro North station, South Norwalk Metro North station or the Merritt 7 Metro North station.
The East Norwalk and South Norwalk train stations run on Metro North’s New Haven line while the Merritt 7 train station is off Metro North’s Danbury Branch which connects to the New Haven Line.
The fastest train to NYC from Norwalk is the South Norwalk train station. The commute from East Norwalk Metro North train station to Grand Central terminal is approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes. While the commute from the South Norwalk Metro North train station to Grand Central is a little faster running approximately 1 hour and 4 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The slowest option to NYC is to catch the Metro North train from Merritt 7 which takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Is there parking for Norwalk residents at the Norwalk Metro North Train Stations?
Norwalk residents can buy monthly parking permits to park at the Norwalk Metro North train stations. There are also daily parking available at both the South Norwalk and East Norwalk Metro North train stations.
Parking Permit: Norwalk residents can buy monthly parking permits to park at South Norwalk and East Norwalk Metro North train stations.
Daily Parking: Daily parking is available at both the South Norwalk and East Norwalk Metro North train stations.
You may also be interested in: How long are the Waitlists for Metro-North Train station parking in Fairfield County, Connecticut?
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