Compare towns
Torrington vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lyme | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,547 |
2,303Lowest |
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 |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Meriden 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 |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Lyme and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Lowest 24% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden 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% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 149 in CT | — | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Regional School District 18 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 16.2Highest |
| 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.