Living in Norwalk, CT
Norwalk is a coastal city in Fairfield County on Long Island Sound, with the Norwalk Islands offshore, the South Norwalk waterfront district and three Metro-North stations.
Norwalk at a glance
- Median sale price
- $700,000+7.7% vs last year 859 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 32.00 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$15,700 median-priced home
- Population
- 93,661 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 22.9 sq mi 4,092 per sq mi
What it is like in Norwalk
Norwalk sits on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in Fairfield County. It has 93,661 residents and 22.89 square miles of land area. It borders Darien, Westport, New Canaan and Wilton, and the Norwalk River runs through it to the harbor.
English settlers bought the land east of the Norwalk River in 1640. The town was settled in 1649 and incorporated in 1651. Most of the town burned during the Revolutionary War Battle of Norwalk. South Norwalk and the rest of Norwalk joined in 1910 to form the present city.
The Norwalk Islands lie off the coast, and three lighthouses stand on and near them: Sheffield Island, Peck Ledge and Greens Ledge. The city also has Mill Hill Historic Park, the Norwalk Green Historic District and the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion in Mathews Park.
South Norwalk, called SoNo, is the waterfront district around Washington Street and North Water Street. It holds the Maritime Aquarium, restaurants such as Match, Mecha Noodle Bar and Jacob's Pickles, and the SoNo Switch Tower Museum. Wall Street and Main Street have more restaurants and District Music Hall.
Mathews Park has the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum and Stepping Stones Museum for Children. Other parks and open spaces include Taylor Farm Park, Mill Hill Historic Park, Shady Beach, Union Park, Charles Creek Park and Broad River Park, plus the Oak Hills Park Golf Course. Fodor Farm on Flax Hill Road is a city-owned historic farm property.
Getting around from Norwalk
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 91 min | 68 |
| New Haven | 48 min | 33 |
| Stamford | 15 min | 9 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 69 min | 44 |
| Boston | 210 min | 168 |
| Providence | 171 min | 137 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 114 min | 84 |
Rail stations nearby
- South Norwalk 0.2 mi Metro-North, CTrail Hartford Line
- East Norwalk 1.1 mi Metro-North
- Rowayton 1.6 mi Metro-North
Highways and routes
Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway both cross Norwalk. U.S. Route 1 runs through the center, and Route 7 runs north from the city. Routes 53, 123 and 136 also serve it. From Norwalk, Stamford is 9 miles and about 15 minutes by car, New Haven is 33 miles and 48 minutes, and New York City (Midtown) is 44 miles and about 69 minutes.
Norwalk has three rail stations: South Norwalk (Metro-North and the CTrail Hartford Line), East Norwalk (Metro-North) and Rowayton (Metro-North). Hartford is 68 miles and about 91 minutes by car, and Bradley Airport is 84 miles and 114 minutes away.
Schools in Norwalk
23 public schools in Norwalk School District and Side By Side Charter School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 14
- Brookside
- Concord Magnet
- Cranbury
- Fox Run
- Jefferson Marine Science
- Kendall College & Career Academy
- Marvin
- Naramake
Show 6 more
- Rowayton
- Side By Side Charter
- Silvermine Dual Language Magnet
- South Norwalk
- Tracey Magnet
- Wolfpit Integrated Arts
Middle 4
- Nathan Hale
- Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy
- Roton
- West Rocks
High school 4
- Brien McMahon High School
- Center for Global Studies
- Norwalk High School
- P-TECH Norwalk
Other 1
- Norwalk Early Childhood Center
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Norwalk School District and Side By Side Charter School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Norwalk
Open Norwalk in Google Maps →Eat and drink 24
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Latin American restaurant on Wall Street in the Wall Street neighborhood.
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Restaurant on Rowayton Avenue in the Rowayton section.
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Wine bar serving Spanish and Portuguese small plates at the Waypointe development on West Avenue.
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Bakery and cafe on Main Avenue.
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Southern restaurant on River Street that serves brunch.
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Restaurant on Washington Street in SoNo.
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Southern comfort food restaurant on North Water Street in South Norwalk.
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Raw bar and seafood restaurant on First Street in East Norwalk.
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Chinese restaurant on Washington Street in South Norwalk.
Show 15 more
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Burger restaurant on Washington Street in SoNo, open there since 1999.
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Vietnamese noodle restaurant on Washington Street.
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Greek and Mediterranean restaurant on Main Street.
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Japanese sushi restaurant and izakaya on Washington Street.
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Italian restaurant with a patio on Westport Avenue.
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Diner on Connecticut Avenue, listed on the Connecticut Classic Diner Trail.
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Italian restaurant on Main Avenue.
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Diner on Connecticut Avenue.
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Waterfront seafood restaurant on Water Street in South Norwalk.
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Mexican restaurant on Wall Street serving tacos.
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New American tavern on Perry Avenue, part of the Inn at GrayBarns.
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Sports bar on North Main Street in SoNo serving chicken wings and pub food.
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Venezuelan lunch spot on Main Street serving arepas and other Latin dishes.
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Steakhouse on Washington Street in SoNo.
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Bakery and cafe on Westport Avenue.
Things to do and see 6
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Live music venue on Wall Street.
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City-owned historic farm property on Flax Hill Road.
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Second Empire country house in Mathews Park, a National Historic Landmark, open for guided tours.
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Local history museum on the Norwalk City Hall campus, run by the Norwalk Historical Society.
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Children's museum in Mathews Park.
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Aquarium on the South Norwalk waterfront with marine animal exhibits.
Parks, preserves and trails 70
Show 56 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Norwalk housing market
Over the last 12 months, 859 homes sold in Norwalk with a median sale price of $700,000 and a median of 20 days on market. There are 147 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $401 per square foot. The typical home sold for 102% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 7.7% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2.1 months.
Norwalk's town-wide property tax rate is 32.00 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $15,700 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Norwalk
See all 147 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Norwalk.
Questions about Norwalk
What is the median home price in Norwalk, CT?
The median sale price in Norwalk is $700,000, based on 859 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Norwalk, CT?
Norwalk's town-wide property tax rate is 32.00 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $15,700 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Norwalk, CT from Hartford?
Norwalk is about 68 miles and a 91-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Norwalk, CT from New York City?
Norwalk is about 44 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 69-minute drive without traffic.
Is there a train station in Norwalk, CT?
The closest passenger rail station we have on record is South Norwalk (Metro-North, CTrail Hartford Line) about 0.2 miles from the center of Norwalk. Check the operator's schedule for current service.
What is the population of Norwalk, CT?
Norwalk has about 93,661 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 22.9 square miles.
How many public schools are in Norwalk, CT?
Norwalk has 23 public schools in Norwalk School District and Side By Side Charter School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Norwalk, CT?
There are 147 homes for sale in Norwalk right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
Which train stations are in Norwalk?
South Norwalk (Metro-North and the CTrail Hartford Line), East Norwalk (Metro-North) and Rowayton (Metro-North).
Which highways serve Norwalk?
Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway, U.S. Routes 1 and 7, and Routes 53, 123 and 136.
What is SoNo?
SoNo is the South Norwalk waterfront district. It has the Maritime Aquarium, the South Norwalk train station, and many restaurants along Washington Street, North Main Street and Water Street.
What are the Norwalk Islands?
They are a chain of islands off the coast in Long Island Sound. Sheffield Island Lighthouse can be reached by ferry from South Norwalk from May to mid-September.
How far is Norwalk from New York City?
It is 44 miles to Midtown Manhattan, about 69 minutes by car, and the Metro-North New Haven Line runs from three stations in the city.
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Towns that border Norwalk
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