Compare towns
Southington vs Wolcott vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southington has the most people working from home (17.3%).
Wolcott has the most homeowners (88.4%).
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 | Southington | Wolcott | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,803 |
16,279Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Southington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Southington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Southington and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
$110,850±$10k 16% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Southington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,800±$10kHighest about the CT average |
$326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
$1,464±$913 about the CT average |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
| Southington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,206Highest 7% below CT |
$5,799 13% below CT |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #51 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southington School District | Wolcott School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Southington High School | Wolcott High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.