Compare towns
Meriden vs Windham vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Torrington has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Windham | Windsor Locks | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
23,961 |
12,579Lowest |
35,547 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
| Torrington and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington and Windsor Locks 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% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$81,205±$13kHighest 15% below CT |
$70,856±$5k 26% below CT |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$258,800±$14kHighest 29% below CT |
$215,500±$8k 41% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,169±$43 21% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Meriden 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,042 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
66.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #124 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #109 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 · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Windham High School | Windsor Locks High School | Torrington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.