Compare towns
Torrington vs Thomaston vs Windsor Locks vs Meriden
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).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Windsor Locks | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
7,492Lowest |
12,579 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Torrington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington and Thomaston 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% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Thomaston and Windsor Locks 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 |
$282,600±$23kHighest 23% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Thomaston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43 21% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
10.7 |
8.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.