Compare towns
Torrington vs Preston vs East Haven
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).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Preston | East Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,547Highest |
4,821Lowest |
27,806 |
| 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 |
45.7±2.5 11% above CT |
| Preston and East Haven 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% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
20.5%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and East Haven 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% |
25.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| East Haven and Preston 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 |
$94,628±$9k about the CT average |
| Preston and East Haven 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$294,200±$12k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,528±$132Highest about the CT average |
| East Haven and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 24% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,122Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Haven and Preston 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% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
74.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.1Lowest 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 | #127 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Preston School District | East Haven School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | None in town | East Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.