Compare towns
Meriden vs Hampton 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 most kids (21.9% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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.
| Measure | Meriden | Hampton | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
1,647Lowest |
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 |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest 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±$4k 26% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
| Meriden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,042 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
66.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| 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 | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town | 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.