Compare towns
Meriden vs Wolcott vs Norwich
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).
Wolcott has the highest household income ($111k).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% 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 | Wolcott | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
16,279Lowest |
39,973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
44.4±2.5Highest 8% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Wolcott and Norwich 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% |
37%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$326,200±$17kHighest 11% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
| Wolcott 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 |
$5,799Highest 13% below CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Wolcott 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Wolcott School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Wolcott High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
10.1Lowest |
14.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.