What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).

Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Meriden	Chaplin
People
Population	60,545Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT	43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT
	Chaplin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5%
	Chaplin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%	25.4%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1%	10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Chaplin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT	$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT	$255,200±$24kHighest 30% below CT
	Chaplin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT	$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average
	Chaplin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,129Highest 23% below CT	$4,524Lowest 32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6%	33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Meriden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest CT: 10%	5.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	82.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below CT	32 minHighest 22% above CT
Work from home	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	18.1%±10Highest CT: 16%
	Chaplin and Meriden 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	#124 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Francis T. Maloney High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	7.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.