Compare towns
Torrington vs Suffield vs Meriden vs Harwinton
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Suffield | Meriden | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
15,702 |
60,545Highest |
5,575Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
46.1±4.3Highest 12% above CT |
| Harwinton and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Harwinton 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Meriden 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
| Harwinton and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
| Harwinton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Lowest 24% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$5,503 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Harwinton 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Suffield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
10.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.