What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).

Meriden has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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	Norwich	Meriden
People
Population	39,973Lowest	60,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9%	0%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT	38.9±1.3Highest 5% below CT
	Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	21.9%±1.6Highest 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+	16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5%	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.1%Highest CT: 42.5%	22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1%	5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT	$71,253±$4kHighest 26% below CT
	Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$11kHighest 34% below CT	$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT
	Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT	$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT
	Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,703Lowest 29% below CT	$5,129Highest 23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±4.9Lowest 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	16.7%Highest CT: 10%	13.2%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	60.1%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT	1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below CT	23 minLowest 13% below CT
Work from home	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%	8.6%±1.6Highest CT: 16%
	Meriden and Norwich 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	#133 of 149 in CT	#124 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District
High school in town	Norwich Free Academy	Francis T. Maloney High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.