Compare towns

Torrington vs Colebrook vs Putnam

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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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.

MeasureTorringtonColebrookPutnam
People
Population
35,547Highest
1,494Lowest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.4%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
42.9±1.8Lowest
4% above CT
52.1±5Highest
27% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Kids under 18
17.9%±1.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±3.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Putnam and Torrington 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%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.8%
CT: 42.5%
36.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.1
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Colebrook 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±$5k
26% below CT
$111,250±$17kHighest
16% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$215,500±$8kLowest
41% below CT
$342,800±$19kHighest
7% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$43
21% below CT
$1,333±$626Highest
10% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
Colebrook and Torrington 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
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±6.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Torrington and Colebrook 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%
11.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.1%
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1961Highest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
34 minHighest
29% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
9%±1.6Highest
CT: 16%
7%±3.8Lowest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #132 of 149 in CT — #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District Colebrook School District Putnam School District
High school in town Torrington High School None in town Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9Highest
—
9.5Lowest
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.