Compare towns
Torrington vs Union vs Brooklyn vs Winchester
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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Brooklyn has the most people working from home (10.7%).
Winchester has the most renters (34.2% 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 | Union | Brooklyn | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547Highest |
944Lowest |
8,517 |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8Lowest 4% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
| Union and Winchester 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Torrington 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% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Union 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% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,856±$5k 26% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Union 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 |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
| Union and Brooklyn 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 |
— | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,174±$116Highest 21% below CT |
| Winchester and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Highest 24% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Winchester 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Brooklyn and Torrington 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 | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Union School District | Brooklyn School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | None in town | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.