What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meriden has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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	Meriden	Torrington
People
Population	60,545Highest	35,547Lowest
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	42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT
Kids under 18	21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%	24.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%	4.7%±1.1Lowest 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±$7kHighest 34% below CT	$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT	$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,129Highest 23% below CT	$5,042Lowest 24% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6%	48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Meriden and Torrington 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%	13.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	66.1%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960 7 yrs older than CT	1960 7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below CT	25 minHighest 6% below CT
Work from home	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	9%±1.6Highest CT: 16%
	Torrington and Meriden 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

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.