Compare towns
Cheshire vs Meriden vs Prospect
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 people working from home (19.1%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Meriden | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,040 |
60,545Highest |
9,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Cheshire 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% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Meriden and Cheshire 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 |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
| Cheshire and Prospect 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 |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,398±$116 6% below CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,755Highest 17% above CT |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Cheshire School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Cheshire High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
16.2Highest |
— |
| 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.