What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meriden has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

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

Measure	Meriden	Norwich
People
Population	60,545Highest	39,973Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest CT: +0.9%	-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	38.9±1.3Highest 5% below CT	38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT
	Meriden and Norwich 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%	20.9%±1.8Lowest 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%	16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5%
	Norwich 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%	23.1%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,253±$4kHighest 26% below CT	$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT
	Meriden and Norwich 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	$242,300±$11kHighest 34% below CT
	Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT	$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT
	Meriden and Norwich 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	$4,703Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10%	16.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT	1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below CT	24 minHighest 9% below CT
Work from home	8.6%±1.6Highest CT: 16%	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%
	Meriden and Norwich 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	#133 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town	Francis T. Maloney High School	Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	14.8Lowest
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.