What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).

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	Preston
People
Population	35,547Highest	4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	42.9±1.8Lowest 4% above CT	46.2±7Highest 12% above CT
	Preston and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2%
	Preston and Torrington 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%	23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5%
	Preston 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%	28.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1%	4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1%
	Preston 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	$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT	$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT	$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT
	Preston and Torrington 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	$4,749Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6%
	Preston 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%	2.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	91.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	22 minLowest 17% below CT
Work from home	9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	10.3%±6Highest CT: 16%
	Preston 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	#93 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District	Preston School District
High school in town	Torrington High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
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.