What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).

Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Upton
People
Population	60,545Highest	8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average	46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Upton and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7%	53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,253±$4kLowest 12% below U.S.	$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S.	$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,294±$72Highest 8% below U.S.	$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S.
	Meriden and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,129Lowest 64% above U.S.	$8,376Highest 169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±4.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Meriden and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#124 of 149 in CT	#46 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town	Francis T. Maloney High School	Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.