Compare towns
Torrington vs Union vs Putnam 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainville has the most people working from home (10.7%).
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 | Putnam | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547Highest |
944Lowest |
9,292 |
17,551 |
| 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 |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Plainville 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Union and Plainville 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Highest 21% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Torrington and Putnam 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Torrington 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainville 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Union School District | Putnam School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
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.