Compare towns
Torrington vs Griswold 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).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Griswold | Windsor Locks | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
11,530Lowest |
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 |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Griswold 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% |
18.5%±3.7 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% |
17.8%±3.5 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% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$81,205±$13kHighest 15% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Griswold 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 |
$275,900±$42kHighest 25% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Griswold and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% 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 |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Griswold 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% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 149 in CT | #118 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 | Griswold School District | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Griswold High School | Windsor Locks High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.5 |
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.