What it's like to live in Meriden
Meriden is a smaller city in Connecticut with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Meriden deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold winters, snowy winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 39" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Meriden compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Meriden
Based on Meriden's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,588
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $51,760 a year
- 51% of Meriden renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$48,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $24,120
- Homes cost 3.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,294/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,294 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $241,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $241,200 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 54% below US
153 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1680/100k · Meriden Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 38% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Weir Farm National Historical Park (39 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Meriden's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,294/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Meriden
All Connecticut guides →Moving to Wallingford Center →
6 mi away · pop. 18,208
Rent $1,336/mo · Income $89,959
Compare with Meriden →Moving to New Britain →
10 mi away · pop. 74,223
Rent $1,253/mo · Income $58,613
Compare with Meriden →Not sure Meriden is the one?
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