Compare towns
Meriden vs Putnam vs Danielson
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).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Danielson has the most renters (47% 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 | Putnam | Danielson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
9,292 |
4,209Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Danielson 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson 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±$4kHighest 26% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% 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±$7k 34% below CT |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,235±$194 17% below CT |
| Meriden and Danielson 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,009 40% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% CT: 10% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest 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 | 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.