Compare towns
Meriden vs Thompson vs Cheshire
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 renters (39.9% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Cheshire has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Thompson | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
9,337Lowest |
29,040 |
| 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 |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Meriden and Cheshire 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,398±$116Highest 6% below CT |
| Cheshire and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129 23% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Thompson 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 | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Thompson School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.