What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	Thompson
People
Population	60,545Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Highest CT: 42.5%	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT	$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT	$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT
	Meriden and Thompson 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	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±4.9Lowest CT: 52.6%	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and Meriden 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%	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below CT	32 minHighest 20% above CT
Work from home	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Francis T. Maloney High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	7.9Lowest
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.