Compare towns
Meriden vs Hampton vs Wallingford vs Norwich
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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Wallingford has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% 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 | Meriden | Hampton | Wallingford | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
1,647Lowest |
44,362 |
39,973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford 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±$4k 26% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Hampton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$353,100±$8kHighest 4% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,374±$84Highest 8% below CT |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
| Wallingford 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 |
$5,963Highest 10% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Wallingford 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 | — | #108 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Hampton School District | Wallingford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town | Lyman Hall High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
14.8 |
| 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.