What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gardner	Torrington
People
Population	21,148Lowest	35,547Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	42.9±1.8Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Gardner and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gardner and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gardner and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Torrington and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$70,856±$5kHighest 12% below U.S.
	Torrington and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.	$215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,169±$43Highest 17% below U.S.
	Torrington and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.	$5,042Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7% U.S.: 12.5%	13.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	66.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gardner and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#273 of 282 in MA	#132 of 149 in CT
School district	Gardner	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Torrington High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.