Compare towns
Middlefield vs Preston 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).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Preston | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
4,821 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Middlefield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Preston 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% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Preston 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Middlefield and Preston 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 |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Middlefield and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Preston 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.