Compare towns
Torrington vs Brookfield 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).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
Meriden has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Torrington | Brookfield | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,547 |
17,706Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Brookfield and Torrington 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% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Meriden 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% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington and Brookfield 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% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Meriden 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 |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Lowest 24% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest 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% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Brookfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Brookfield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.7 |
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.