Compare towns
Torrington vs Suffield vs Meriden vs Naugatuck
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 expensive homes ($408k median).
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 | Suffield | Meriden | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
15,702Lowest |
60,545Highest |
31,800 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-1.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
| Suffield and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Naugatuck 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington and Suffield 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% |
32.2% 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% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck 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±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$96,324±$9k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
$259,100±$13k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,369±$58 8% below CT |
| Suffield and Naugatuck 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 |
$6,362 4% 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% |
42.2%±9.4Lowest 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% |
6.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.8% 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 |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Naugatuck 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 | #116 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 | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Suffield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
10.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
15.2 |
| 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.