Compare towns

Meriden vs Cornwall Bridge vs Torrington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meriden has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Cornwall Bridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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.

MeasureMeridenCornwall BridgeTorrington
People
Population
60,545Highest
248Lowest
35,547
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
-2.4%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
38.9±1.3Lowest
5% below CT
50.4±11.4Highest
23% above CT
42.9±1.8
4% above CT
Cornwall Bridge and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±1.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.2%±11.6
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±1.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Meriden and Cornwall Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.2%±1.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
25%±11.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.2%±1.5
CT: 18.5%
Cornwall Bridge and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
26.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.8%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.4%±6.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.7%±1.1
CT: 7.1%
Meriden and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,253±$4kHighest
26% below CT
—
$70,856±$5kLowest
26% below CT
Meriden and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$241,200±$7k
34% below CT
$371,100±$64kHighest
about the CT average
$215,500±$8kLowest
41% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,294±$72Highest
13% below CT
$911±$105Lowest
39% below CT
$1,169±$43
21% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,129Highest
23% below CT
$4,107Lowest
38% below CT
$5,042
24% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±4.9
CT: 52.6%
89.3%±61Highest
CT: 52.6%
48%±6.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Cornwall Bridge and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
19%Highest
CT: 10%
13.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.8%Highest
CT: 66.5%
66.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Highest
7 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1960Highest
7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below CT
35 minHighest
31% above CT
25 min
6% below CT
Work from home
8.6%±1.6Lowest
CT: 16%
19.8%±15.7Highest
CT: 16%
9%±1.6
CT: 16%
Cornwall Bridge 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 #124 of 149 in CT — #132 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District
High school in town Francis T. Maloney High School — Torrington High School
Students per teacherat that high school
16.2Highest
—
11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.