Compare towns
Torrington vs Smithfield vs Plainfield vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Smithfield | Plainfield | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
22,233 |
15,141Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.9±1.3 about the U.S. average |
| Torrington and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Meriden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,856±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$71,253±$4k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$241,200±$7k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43 17% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,294±$72Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Meriden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,129 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Plainfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Smithfield | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Smithfield High School | Plainfield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.8 |
10.3Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.