Compare towns
Torrington vs Bethlehem vs Plainville
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).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Bethlehem | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,547Highest |
3,423Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8Lowest 4% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Torrington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Torrington 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 |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Highest 21% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Torrington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 24% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Plainville 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Regional School District 14 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.