Compare towns
Meriden vs Hampton vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k 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 | Meriden | Hampton | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
1,647Lowest |
29,040 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Hampton and Cheshire 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% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 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 | $71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,398±$116Highest 6% below CT |
| Cheshire and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129 23% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Hampton 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Hampton 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 | — | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Hampton School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.