What stands out worked out from the figures below

Torrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Torrington	Derby
People
Population	35,547Highest	12,487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Highest CT: +0.9%	-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	42.9±1.8Lowest 4% above CT	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT
	Derby and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Torrington and Derby 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%	21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5%
	Derby and Torrington 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%	35.6%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Derby 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	$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT
	Derby and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT	$256,700±$21kHighest 30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 24% below CT	$5,510Highest 17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%
	Derby 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%	10.8%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1967Highest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16%
	Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District	Derby School District
High school in town	Torrington High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.