Compare towns
Cheshire vs Killingly vs South Windsor vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k median).
South Windsor has the most people working from home (27.5%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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 | Cheshire | Killingly | South Windsor | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,040 |
17,867Lowest |
26,907 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.2±1.3 about the CT average |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.4%±2Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| South Windsor and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
58.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.1%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| South Windsor and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$144,961±$10k 51% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Cheshire and South Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$375,100±$12k about the CT average |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,398±$116 6% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,864±$214Highest 25% above CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,755 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,888Highest 19% above CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.9%±10.7 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and South Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.9% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±2.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
27.5%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #40 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Cheshire School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Capitol Region Education Council · South Windsor School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Cheshire High School | Killingly High School | South Windsor High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
16.2Highest |
| 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.