What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sutton	Meriden
People
Population	9,452Lowest	60,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Meriden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Meriden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$71,253±$4kLowest 12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,294±$72Highest 8% below U.S.
	Meriden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.	$5,129Lowest 64% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±4.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Meriden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#124 of 149 in CT
School district	Sutton	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District
High school in town	Sutton High School	Francis T. Maloney High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.