Norwalk ACTS presents findings from DataHaven 2025 Equity Report

[Excerpt from news report by By Sarah F. Griffin, Ashley RK Smith, March 11, 2026]

NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalk ACTS presented findings from the 2025 Equity Report by DataHaven during its quarterly convention on Tuesday, highlighting disparities in housing, education, and language access among Norwalk residents.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, and residents to collaborate on issues including early childhood development, social-emotional health, and college and workforce readiness, according to Norwalk ACTS.

DataHaven presented the findings of the Norwalk 2025 Equity Report during the convention.

Jesse Buccolo, deputy director of Norwalk ACTS, said the quarterly convenings are meant to help the community use data to understand local challenges.

“Our quarterly convening is about helping our community use data to better understand how children, youth, and families in Norwalk are doing and what we can do together to improve outcomes,” Buccolo said in a statement.

Norwalk 2025 equity report findings

The Norwalk 2025 Equity Report, published in December, was designed to inform local efforts to improve community well-being and racial equity.

The report compares demographic and socioeconomic data from Norwalk with statewide figures and with Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) 0920903, a Census-defined region that includes Norwalk and Westport.

Demographics

Norwalk has about 91,000 residents, and the city’s population has grown about 6 percent since 2010. About 57 percent of residents are people of color, compared with about 37 percent statewide.

Roughly 30 percent of Norwalk residents are foreign-born. The largest immigrant populations in the city come from Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica, according to the report.

The report also found that about 17 percent of residents age 5 and older speak English less than “very well,” a factor that can affect access to services such as education, health care, and employment.

Housing

Housing affordability emerged as one of the major issues highlighted in the report.

About 40 percent of Norwalk households are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend at least 30 percent of their income on housing costs.

Homeownership rates also vary significantly across racial groups. About 69 percent of white households in Norwalk own their homes, compared with 42 percent of Black households and 38 percent of Latino households.

Nearly half of renter households in Norwalk are cost-burdened, compared with about one-third of homeowners.

Buccolo said the report is intended to ensure the data reflects the lived experiences of residents.

“Behind every data point is a real person, whether that is a child, a young person, a parent, or a caregiver, and our goal is to make sure those lived experiences guide how schools, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and city leaders work together,” he said.

Education

The report also examined education outcomes and school demographics.

During the 2024–25 school year, about 11,473 students were enrolled in Norwalk Public Schools. About 23 percent were English language learners, and roughly 52 percent qualified for free or reduced-price meals.

Overall, about 93 percent of Norwalk public high school seniors graduated within four years, according to the report.

Economy and income

Norwalk’s median household income is about $105,301, higher than the statewide median but lower than that of other towns in the regional comparison area.

The city is home to about 39,800 jobs, with the largest share in the health care and social assistance sector.

However, the report notes that disparities remain across racial and ethnic groups, with households led by Black and Latino residents generally reporting lower incomes than white or Asian households.

Health

The report also highlights health disparities tied to economic and social conditions.

About 56 percent of Norwalk adults report being in excellent or very good health.

The report notes that factors such as housing stability, income, language access, and transportation can influence health outcomes.

In 2024, eight Norwalk residents died from drug overdoses, according to the report.

Civic life and community

Survey results included in the report show mixed views about local civic life.

About 86 percent of Norwalk adults said they are satisfied with their area of residence. However, only about 48 percent said their local government is responsive to residents’ needs.

Voter turnout in the most recent municipal election was about 37 percent of registered voters, according to the report.

Environment

The report also examined environmental factors affecting quality of life.

About 75 percent of Norwalk adults report having stores, banks, and other services within walking distance of their homes, and about 67 percent say there are safe places to bike in their neighborhoods.

Norwalk’s tree canopy covers about 25 percent of the city’s land area, with an additional 14 percent identified as potentially plantable space. Trees in the city remove an estimated 345,000 pounds of air pollutants each year, according to the report.

Buccolo said the report is also intended to help organizations coordinate responses across education, health care, and community services.

“When partners across different systems come together around shared data, it helps us align efforts and move toward the kind of systems change needed so every young person in Norwalk is on a pathway to economic mobility,” he said.

About Norwalk ACTS

Norwalk ACTS’ mission is “to collectively transform systems by ensuring resources, policies, practices, and power structures actively dismantle racism and drive equitable outcomes for every Norwalk child and young person,” according to the organization.