Compare towns
Meriden vs Torrington vs West Haven
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).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
West Haven has the most expensive homes ($292k 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 | Torrington | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
35,547Lowest |
55,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.8% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
$74,382±$5kHighest 22% below CT |
| West Haven and Meriden 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 |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129 23% below CT |
$5,042Lowest 24% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.7% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% CT: 66.5% |
66.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT |
1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
| West Haven 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 | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Torrington High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.9Lowest |
15.6 |
| 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.