What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Southwick has the most expensive homes ($398k 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	Southwick
People
Population	35,547Highest	9,217Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.8Lowest 10% above U.S.	46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Southwick 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 U.S.: 17.2%	21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Southwick 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Torrington and Southwick 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 12% below U.S.	$120,462±$16kHighest 49% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S.	$397,500±$27kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$43Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,332±$72Highest 6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$5,331Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Southwick 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#132 of 149 in CT	#211 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town	Torrington High School	Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.