ZIP Code · CT

ZIP 06851

Part of Norwalk, CT
Pop. 27,865·Fairfield County·20th most expensive ZIP in Connecticut
Median rent (all units)
$2,645/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.8%
Month-over-Month
+1.1%
vs US Median
+$713
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 06851 · $2,645
More expensive than 83% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,680
1 BR
$2,040
2 BR
$2,440
3 BR
$2,950
4 BR+
$3,500
Research median
$2,440/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 06851 usually run 0.6% below trend in January and 0.5% above it in June, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 06851 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Connecticut

Rent in ZIP 06851 changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 64 Connecticut ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 06851 rose 33.3% while median household income rose 15.1% ($96,769 to $111,341). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 06851 is 39.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($111,341) is $2,784 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,440); a 3-bedroom is $2,950.

Rank in Norwalk

1st cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Norwalk.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 06605, 10 miles away, rents for 21% less ($2,089/mo), about $6,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 06851. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$31,740/yr
At $2,645/mo median
Location
StateCT
CountyFairfield County
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (1.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 06851 (Norwalk, CT) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 46.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
27,865
Median income
$111,341
Median age
43.2
Renters
38.4%
Age distribution
16.4%
21%
27.9%
15.1%
19.6%
Under 1816.4%
18–3421%
35–5427.9%
55–6415.1%
65+19.6%
Gender
48.6%
51.4%
Male48.6%
Female51.4%
Race & ethnicity
52.2%
13.9%
28.6%
White52.2%
Black13.9%
Hispanic28.6%
Asian4.5%
Other0.8%
Education (25+)
21.9%
22.6%
46.4%
No HS diploma9.2%
HS diploma21.9%
Some college22.6%
Bachelor's+46.4%
Housing tenure
61.6%
38.4%
Owner61.6%
Renter38.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 06851 in Norwalk, CT has changed in 5 years

Rent
$2,064 → $2,645
up 28.1%
Income
$96,522 → $111,341
up 15.4%
Population
28,756 → 27,865
down 3.1%
Renter share
36.6% → 38.4%
+1.8 pts
Bachelor's+
42.7% → 46.4%
+3.7 pts
Median age
42.6 → 43.2
+0.6 yrs

Rent in ZIP 06851 in Norwalk, CT has climbed 28.1% since 2021, going from about $2,064 per month to roughly $2,645 today. Median household income grew from $96,522 to $111,341 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.4% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 12.7 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 28,756 to 27,865 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.1% change. About 38.4% of households rent today, against 36.6% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 42.7% to 46.4%. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 06851 in Norwalk, CT reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 06851

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 06851 covers Norwalk, CT. The median rent here is $2,645/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,040/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,440/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($111,341/yr), ZIP 06851 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 06851?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $106,000/year (about $51/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,645/mo in ZIP 06851. The local median household income is $111,341/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 06851?

Rent in ZIP 06851 has risen 1.8% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 06851?

Asking rents in ZIP 06851 are usually lowest in January, about 0.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $29 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 06851?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 06851 rose 33.3% while median household income rose 15.1%, from $96,769 to $111,341. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 06851 compare to other ZIPs in Connecticut?

ZIP 06851 is one of the pricier among Connecticut ZIP codes for rent, ranking #20 of 83 at $2,645/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 06851 changed +1.8%, against a typical +3.7% across the 64 Connecticut ZIP codes Zillow tracks.

How does ZIP 06851 compare to the rest of Norwalk?

At $2,645/mo, ZIP 06851 is $85 below the Norwalk citywide median of $2,730/mo. It is the 1st cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Norwalk.
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $2,645/mo, rent takes ~29% of ZIP 06851's median household income ($111,341/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 06851 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3–6.99%
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Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 06851 (Norwalk, CT)

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