Compare towns
Torrington vs Hamden vs Northwest Harwinton
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).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Northwest Harwinton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Hamden | Northwest Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,547 |
61,045Highest |
3,088Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -2.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
46±5.9Highest 12% above CT |
| Northwest Harwinton 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Northwest Harwinton 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% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.6%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Northwest Harwinton 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$109,458±$13kHighest 14% above CT |
| Northwest Harwinton and Hamden 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 |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$330,500±$20kHighest 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,446±$154 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 24% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,019Lowest 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
30.8%±29.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
31 minHighest 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.9%±6.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Northwest Harwinton 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Hamden High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.