Torrington, CT - A balanced review
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3/17/2018
I have lived and worked in Torrington for 25 years, but am not originally from here. Torrington is the biggest city, really the only city, in NW CT. Further north and west and it becomes quite rural. Its about 20 minutes to Waterbury in the South, about an hour to Hartford and an hour to the airport. There are no direct highway connections to the rest of the state, except RT 8 which runs north/south. This means the NW corner is somewhat isolated from the rest of the state. There is no rail availability unless one drives to Waterbury, at the closest.
This area is a story of two worlds; the wealthy who live in surrounding communities such as Litchfield (many of whom only come here on weekends and holidays) and the lower-middle class people such as those that live in Torrington. The job market is a bit tight in the area, expect a commute. Property is cheaper in Torrington than elsewhere, but taxes are high. The school system is mediocre and the quality of the school varies depending on which part of town you live in. The high school, in particular, tends to get bad grades.
The area is beautiful, especially in the spring and fall. In the autumn, the area is full of “leaf-peeping” tourists. Winters are a challenge. It regularly gets to be zero F in the winter. Ice storms are a real possibility and snow storms, dumping a foot of snow or more, are common. On the other hand, it can get quite hot in the summer and we normally get a few days hitting the 100F mark. September is a wonderful time of year here.
Some of the more interesting attractions in the area include Bantam Lake, the White Memorial Conservation Center, Main St Marketplace and Infinity Hall in Norfolk. Special mention goes to the Warner Theater, which is truly an asset to the community and a must visit. They attract three of four national level acts a year. Also, several nice, small art galleries have been popping up over the past few years. There are many local churches and it seems are well attended, in general. Healthcare is relatively easy to come by, but traveling to nearby Farmington or Hartford is required for more advanced needs.
Torrington is a run down-industrial town, like many of the other communities up and down the Naugatuck River valley in which Torrington sits. There are many empty buildings downtown. Several have stood vacant for as long as I can remember. Homelessness and drugs are a growing problem, though crime still seems relatively low.
The local people are very blue-collar. Many have lived in the area for generations and a large number not very worldly; the word “insular”, may not be too strong for many here. There are no bookstores in town, other than one or two small used book stores. On the other hand, there are several very good dance studios/schools. If you are not from the area, expect it to take a long time to be “accepted”, as people tend to keep to themselves. Economic ups and downs which affect the rest of the country are felt less here, which tends to be in a state of near-constant depression. There are a good number of homes for sale here as lots of people are looking to escape the winters, the taxes and under-employment. More people are leaving than moving here. The city could be quite a gem, but the social will doesn't really exist to make it happen.
Tony | Torrington, CT