Compare towns
Meriden vs Middlefield vs Willimantic vs Wallingford
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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Wallingford has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Middlefield | Willimantic | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
4,243Lowest |
18,096 |
44,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Wallingford 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$104,773±$5kHighest 9% above CT |
| Wallingford and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
| Middlefield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,374±$84 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129 23% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,963 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.3%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Wallingford and Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | — | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Regional School District 13 | — | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town | — | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
— | — | 10.5Lowest |
| 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.