What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k 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	Putnam
People
Population	35,547Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	42.9±1.8Lowest 4% above CT	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
	Putnam 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%	18.6%±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%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Torrington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Torrington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,856±$5kHighest 26% below CT	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT
	Torrington and Putnam 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	$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$43Highest 21% below CT	$1,149±$44Lowest 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	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Torrington and Putnam 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%	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	25 minLowest 6% below CT
Work from home	9%±1.6 CT: 16%	9%±2.8 CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#132 of 149 in CT	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District	Putnam School District
High school in town	Torrington High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	9.5Lowest
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.