Compare towns
Torrington vs Preston vs Plainville
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 most expensive homes ($362k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,547Highest |
4,821Lowest |
17,551 |
| 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 |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Preston and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Plainville 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% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Preston and Plainville 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 |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43 21% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainville and Preston 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.