Compare towns
Torrington vs Suffield vs Meriden vs Plainville
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
15,702Lowest |
60,545Highest |
17,551 |
| 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±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Plainville 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%±2 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% |
30% 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% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43 21% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Suffield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 24% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% 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% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% 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 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT | #89 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 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Suffield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
10.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.