City profile · Connecticut · Census ACS 2023

Meriden, CT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Meriden - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

60,418
Residents
$68,617
Median income
$221,600
Median home
$1,969
Median rent (state)

Meriden - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Meriden places in the 48th percentile for household income and the 36th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

48th
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
82nd
percentile, median rent
36th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Meriden, CT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 60,418 residents in Meriden, a small city within Connecticut. Median household income here is $68,617 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.5%. Home values in Meriden run a median of $221,600, and the median resident age is 38.6 years. About 22.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 25 residential building permits were authorized in Meriden (Building Boom), up 733% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Meriden reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1816.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Connecticut carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Connecticut at 103.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,969 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Connecticut's average monthly utility costs around $345 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 95.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

60,418 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Connecticut

Median Household Income

$68,617 /yr

Poverty 9.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.6 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Connecticut average

How does Meriden compare to other US cities?

Where Meriden sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 48% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 82% pricier than other cities
Safety 36% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Connecticut alone, Meriden ranks #33 of 46 Connecticut cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Meriden's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Connecticut, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

48thIncome percentile
36thSafety percentile

48th percentile nationally for median household income · 36th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Meriden's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Meriden's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 40 Avg. percentile National median
Meriden's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Meriden's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$221,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Meriden $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Meriden, CT Meriden, CT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Meriden, CT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Meriden, CT median $68,617/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Meriden, CT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Meriden, CT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
60,418
Median Income
$68,617
Median Home Value
$221,600
Median Age
38.6
Poverty Rate
9.5%
Labor force participation
60.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1816.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
128.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1688.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
14
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
60,200 residents60,400 residents60,600 residents60,800 residents61,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 60,616 residents 60,810 residents ▲ +0.3%
Meriden's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
25
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
17
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 10
2021 10
2022 61
2023 137
2024 25

Permit volume increased 733% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.4%
Carpool
10.3%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
7.4%
Other
1.4%

Based on 28,741 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Connecticut - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$175
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$345
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Connecticut state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Connecticut state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Meriden sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.6
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,969/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Connecticut

Bristol
61,129 people
West Hartford
63,809 people
West Haven
55,147 people
East Hartford
50,798 people
Milford city (balance)
50,749 people
Middletown
47,646 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Meriden's 60,418 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Great Falls, MT
60,412 people
Corvallis, OR
60,424 people
Four Corners, FL
60,443 people
Euless, TX
60,373 people
San Rafael, CA
60,604 people
Vineland, NJ
60,692 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Meriden's $68,617 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Gulfport, FL
$68,617 median income
Philadelphia, TN
$68,618 median income
Luthersville, GA
$68,611 median income
Belleville, NY
$68,611 median income
Loyalhanna, PA
$68,611 median income
Herreid, SD
$68,611 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Meriden, CT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Meriden, CT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 58.9% 8.4% 10.3% 19.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 37.7% White 58.9% Black or African American 8.4% Asian 2.4% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 10.3% Two or more races 19.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Meriden compares to nearby Connecticut cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Meriden (this city) 60,418 $68,617
Bristol 61,129 $83,458
West Hartford 63,809 $125,616
West Haven 55,147 $73,566
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CT FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Meriden, CT?

What is the population of Meriden, CT? +

60,418 people live in Meriden, CT according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Meriden, CT? +

The median household income in Meriden is $68,617 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Meriden? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Meriden; the closest available measure is the Connecticut state average, a cost of living index of 103.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Connecticut vary by metro area.

Is Meriden, CT safe? +

Meriden has a total crime rate of 1816.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Meriden, CT? +

Meriden's median home value sits at $221,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.