What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).

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	Putnam	Meriden
People
Population	9,292Lowest	60,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	0% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT	38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%
	Meriden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5%	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%	22.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%
	Meriden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT	$71,253±$4kHighest 26% below CT
	Meriden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT	$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT	$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT	$5,129Highest 23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6%
	Meriden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%	13.2%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	60.1%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	23 minLowest 13% below CT
Work from home	9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%
	Putnam 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	#128 of 149 in CT	#124 of 149 in CT
School district	Putnam School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District
High school in town	Putnam High School	Francis T. Maloney High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	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.