Compare towns
Torrington vs Colebrook vs Plainfield 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).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Colebrook | Plainfield | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
1,494Lowest |
15,141 |
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 |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Colebrook and Meriden 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 |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Colebrook School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.