What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	Thompson	Meriden
People
Population	9,337Lowest	60,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	0% CT: +0.9%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT	38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	22.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average	$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT	$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT	$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT
	Meriden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT	$5,129Highest 23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±4.9Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%	13.2%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%	60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above CT	23 minLowest 13% below CT
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#124 of 149 in CT
School district	Thompson School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Francis T. Maloney High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	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.