Compare towns
Torrington vs Bethany vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
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 | Torrington | Bethany | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,547 |
5,288Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Torrington and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
— | $1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Lowest 24% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest 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 | 13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethany 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 | #132 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 16.2Highest |
| 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.