Compare towns
Torrington vs Durham vs Windsor Locks 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).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Durham | Windsor Locks | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
7,208Lowest |
12,579 |
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 |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Durham and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Windsor Locks 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington and Windsor Locks 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Meriden 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 |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43 21% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Meriden 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% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Windsor Locks 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Regional School District 13 | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
8.9Lowest |
8.9Lowest |
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.