What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middletown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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	Middletown
People
Population	35,547Lowest	47,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9%	+0.1%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT	38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%	16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Torrington and Middletown 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%	40.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1%	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT	$79,438±$6kHighest 17% below CT
	Middletown 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	$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT	$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 24% below CT	$6,412Highest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6%	47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Torrington and Middletown 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%	12%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	23 minLowest 12% below CT
Work from home	9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#132 of 149 in CT	#121 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town	Torrington High School	Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.8Lowest
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.