What stands out worked out from the figures below

Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

Meriden has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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	Meriden
People
Population	35,547Lowest	60,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9%	0%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT	38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Highest CT: 42.5%	22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Lowest 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	$71,253±$4kHighest 26% below CT
	Meriden 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	$241,200±$7kHighest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT	$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 24% below CT	$5,129Highest 23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±6.3Lowest 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%	13.2%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960 7 yrs older than CT	1960 7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	23 minLowest 13% below CT
Work from home	9%±1.6Highest CT: 16%	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%
	Torrington and Meriden 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	#124 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District
High school in town	Torrington High School	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

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.