Compare towns
Torrington vs Upton vs Meriden vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Meriden has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Upton | Meriden | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547 |
8,189Lowest |
60,545Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 12% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$71,253±$4k 12% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$241,200±$7k 28% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,294±$72Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,129 64% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±4.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meriden and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #124 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Blackstone Valley | Francis T. Maloney High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
16.2Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.