Compare towns
Middlefield vs Ashford vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
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 | Middlefield | Ashford | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243 |
4,226Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Ashford and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Middlefield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Ashford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 16.2 |
| 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.