About
Life in Meriden
Meriden offers a practical mid-Connecticut location if you're looking to split the difference between New Haven and Hartford without being dependent on either. The cost of living sits in the moderate range—median homes around $241,200 and rent averaging $1,294—which is reasonable for the region, though not cheap. The commute is manageable at about 23 minutes on average, making it feasible to work in nearby cities.
Meriden at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.2%
Foreign-Born
10.7%
Broadband Internet
90.1%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Meriden: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Meriden, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (15.3%), and 27.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
16.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.7%
of households
Married Couples
35.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.42
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% below CT average
Rent, home values, and income in Meriden
In Meriden, rent runs 13% below the CT average, and home values are 34% below the CT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,129
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $325,569 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above CT average
Unemployment in Meriden
Unemployment in Meriden is 0.9 percentage points higher than the CT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Meriden Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23 min avg
How Meriden residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Meriden, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN)
Small hub738k passengers boarded in 2025
- 28 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 76 mi
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 54% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Meriden runs 54% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
152.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,679.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Meriden Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
In New Haven County, which includes Meriden, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $80,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $469,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Flash Flood | $19,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Winter Weather | $36,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Flash Flood | $309,000 |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21.1M |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $176,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Winter Weather | $588,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
New Haven County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in New Haven County, which includes Meriden, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
107
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
New Haven County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Meriden has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.9"
Annual Snowfall
38.6"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 19°F | 3.05" |
| Feb | 39°F | 20°F | 2.93" |
| Mar | 48°F | 28°F | 4.05" |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 4.13" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.48" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.05" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.38" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.28" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.49" |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 3.36" |
| Dec | 42°F | 25°F | 4.12" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Meriden
Meriden has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Midstate Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Masonicare Health Center
Psychiatric · 5.5 mi away · Wallingford
Middlesex Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 mi away · Middletown
The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · New Britain
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Meriden
Meriden's student/teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Meriden (within 15 miles)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 13,603 students · in-state tuition $16,499 · 18% graduate · median earnings $44,639 (10 yrs after entry)
Central Connecticut State University
10.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 7,822 students · in-state tuition $13,050 · 59% graduate · median earnings $65,779 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,067 students · in-state tuition $73,128 · 93% graduate · median earnings $86,811 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 1,821 students · in-state tuition $8,506 · 62% graduate · median earnings $65,844 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
12.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 733 students · in-state tuition $18,250 · 62% graduate · median earnings $82,098 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Weir Farm National Historical Park, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Meriden
Meriden has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Weir Farm National Historical Park (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Weir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
39 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
41 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
54 mi awaySagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
58 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayFire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
59 mi awayHome Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
National Historic Site
62 mi awayPublic Libraries in Meriden
Meriden Public Library
105 Miller St., Meriden
Cities Near Meriden
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Meriden?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Meriden FAQ
Is Meriden, Connecticut affordable?⌄
Meriden's median rent is $1,294/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $71,253/year. Median home value is $241,200.
Is Meriden, Connecticut safe?⌄
Meriden's violent crime rate was 153 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1680 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Meriden, Connecticut?⌄
Meriden has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Meriden, Connecticut?⌄
The cost of living in Meriden is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,294/month and median household income is $71,253/year. The median home value is $241,200. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Meriden, Connecticut?⌄
The average commute in Meriden is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from