Compare towns
Cheshire vs 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).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
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 | Windsor | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,040Lowest |
29,468 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Cheshire and Windsor 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% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Windsor 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% |
43.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,398±$116 6% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,755Highest 17% above CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 149 in CT | #117 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Cheshire School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Cheshire High School | Windsor High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.2Lowest |
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.