Compare towns
Torrington vs Plainville vs Putnam
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).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Plainville | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,547Highest |
17,551 |
9,292Lowest |
| 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 |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Plainville and Putnam 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$5k 26% below CT |
$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Highest 21% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Torrington and Putnam 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 |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Plainville High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.