What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

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	Putnam
People
Population	60,545Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
Kids under 18	21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Meriden and Putnam 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%	18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Meriden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,253±$4kHighest 26% below CT	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT
	Meriden and Putnam 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	$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,129Highest 23% below CT	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Meriden and Putnam 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%	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below CT	25 minHighest 6% below CT
Work from home	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Putnam 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	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District	Putnam School District
High school in town	Francis T. Maloney High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	9.5Lowest
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.