What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainville has the most people working from home (10.7%).

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	Plainville
People
Population	60,545Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT	44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT
Kids under 18	21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5%
	Plainville 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%	30%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
	Plainville 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	$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT	$254,000±$14kHighest 31% below CT
	Plainville 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	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT
	Meriden and Plainville 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	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6%	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Meriden and Plainville 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%	6.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	67.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below CT	21 minLowest 20% below CT
Work from home	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	10.7%±2Highest CT: 16%
	Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Francis T. Maloney High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	11.4Lowest
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.