What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).

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	Plainville
People
Population	35,547Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	42.9±1.8Lowest 4% above CT	44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT
	Plainville and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Torrington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.2%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5%	20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5%
	Plainville 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%	30%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
	Plainville 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	$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT	$254,000±$14kHighest 31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$43Highest 21% below CT	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT
	Torrington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Highest 24% below CT	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6%	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Torrington and Plainville 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%	6.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	67.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	21 minLowest 20% below CT
Work from home	9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	10.7%±2Highest CT: 16%
	Plainville and Torrington 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Torrington High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.4Lowest
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.