Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Meriden vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Waterford has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
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 | Bloomfield | Meriden | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,754 |
60,545Highest |
19,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
46±2.4 12% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,725±$14k 3% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$104,820±$9kHighest 9% above CT |
| Waterford and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,900±$11k 22% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$355,900±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
$1,651±$153 11% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$4,876Lowest 27% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 12% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #139 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT | #80 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Learn · Waterford School District |
| High school in town | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Francis T. Maloney High School | Waterford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.