What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).

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	Monroe	Torrington
People
Population	18,949Lowest	35,547Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.4% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT	42.9±1.8Lowest 4% above CT
	Monroe and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%	17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	24.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Monroe and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT	$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$1,169±$43Highest 21% below CT
	Torrington and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT	$5,042Lowest 24% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6%	48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Monroe and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest CT: 10%	13.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	25 minLowest 6% below CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16%	9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 149 in CT	#132 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District
High school in town	Masuk High School	Torrington High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	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.