Compare towns

Meriden vs Windham vs Windsor Locks

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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasureMeridenWindhamWindsor Locks
People
Population
60,545Highest
23,961
12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
38.9±1.3
5% below CT
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
41.4±2.6Highest
about the CT average
Windsor Locks and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±1.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Meriden and Windham 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%
14.3%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
Windsor Locks 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
CT: 42.5%
22.7%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,253±$4k
26% below CT
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% below CT
$81,205±$13kHighest
15% below CT
Windsor Locks and Meriden 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
$209,800±$9kLowest
43% below CT
$258,800±$14kHighest
29% below CT
Windsor Locks and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,294±$72
13% below CT
$1,107±$69Lowest
26% below CT
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
Windsor Locks and Meriden 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
$4,633
30% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±4.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%
CT: 10%
20.7%Highest
CT: 10%
10.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.1%
CT: 66.5%
47.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
7 yrs older than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1961Highest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below CT
24 minHighest
8% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
8.6%±1.6
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #124 of 149 in CT #143 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Francis T. Maloney High School Windham High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
16.2Highest
9.8
8.9Lowest
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.