Frederick vs Norwalk
The short version
- Norwalk is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 2% lower than in the Frederick area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $401,500 in Frederick and $558,000 in Norwalk.
- Households earn more in Norwalk ($107,616 vs $97,069 median).
- Frederick has the warmer winter: January highs of 43°F vs 38°F.
- Frederick has more scorching days: 36 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 9.
- Frederick is growing faster: +17.8% since 2020 vs +3.6%.
Side by side
| Frederick, MD | Norwalk, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 92,059 | 94,508 |
| Growth since 2020 | +17.8% | +3.6% |
| People per square mile | 3,842 | 4,129 |
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43% | 45% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $97,069 | $107,616 |
| Median home value | $401,500 | $558,000 |
| Home value to income | 4.1× | 5.2× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,764 | $2,073 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 108.9 | 106.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 151.1 | 150.5 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $81,700 | $80,100 |
| Homeowners | 59% | 56% |
| Top state income tax | 6.5% | 6.99% |
| Combined sales tax | 6% | 6.35% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 30.0 | 27.1 |
| Work from home | 18% | 15% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 7% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 3.9% | 5.2% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 43° / 27° | 38° / 24° |
| July high / low | 89° / 68° | 83° / 68° |
| Precipitation per year | 44 in | 44 in |
| Snowfall per year | 31 in | 34 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 36 | 9 |
| Nights below freezing | 84 | 92 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Low | n/a |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 74.2 | n/a |
| Good air days, 2025 | 59% | 65% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.3% | +5.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +29.4% | +53.3% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Frederick: April to June and October. Norwalk: May to October.
Full monthly tables: Frederick weather by month and Norwalk weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $81,700 in Frederick and $80,100 in Norwalk. Moving from Frederick to Norwalk, you would need about $73,600 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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