Population 60,023 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Meriden
Household size in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.28 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.53 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.02 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
The average household in Meriden has 2.52 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of the New Haven area. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.0 | 41.4 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 41.7 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Meriden are younger than 40.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.9, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 12.7% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 12.4% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 12.0% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 13.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Meriden: 18.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.7 points, even as the national share fell. Only five of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Meriden
Renters in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5% | 34.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.2% | 36.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.1% | 38.2% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.1% | 37.6% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +2.9 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Meriden than nationally: 40.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Just over a third of owners (34.9%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 10.6% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 8.0% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Meriden as nationally: 9.0%, against 9.6%. Meriden has a higher vacancy rate than most Connecticut cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1961 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1961 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1961 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1964 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Meriden is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1959, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing. Meriden has older homes than the great majority of Connecticut cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $973 | $1,093 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,036 | $1,175 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,119 | $1,288 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,450 | $1,584 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$478 | +$491 | +$575 | +$606 |
The median renter in Meriden pays $1,450 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $478 a month from 2006–10, a 49% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Meriden
Bachelor's degrees in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.9% | 31.6% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 33.1% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.5% | 34.5% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 38.5% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +6.9 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Meriden: 21.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.3 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Only nine of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.7% | 87.4% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.2% | 88.4% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.6% | 89.6% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.0% | 90.6% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Meriden never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 4.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only five of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Meriden
| Period | Meriden | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 8.5% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 10.7% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 6.4% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Meriden: 7.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people, only eight have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Meriden compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meriden | 2.52 | 40.2 | 18.0% | 40.1% | 9.0% | 1959 | $1,450 | 21.2% | 85.0% | 7.8% |
| Middlefield | 2.42 | 49.8 | 5.2% | 10.9% | 9.2% | 1967 | $3,210 | 42.6% | 95.8% | 2.5% |
| Wallingford | 2.51 | 46.3 | 7.8% | 17.5% | 5.5% | 1976 | $1,575 | 42.8% | 96.7% | 3.4% |
| Rockfall | 2.35 | 51.3 | 3.1% | 17.1% | 8.4% | 1964 | $3,363 | 41.6% | 95.7% | 1.1% |
| Milldale | 2.23 | 44.6 | 11.9% | 44.4% | 6.6% | 1964 | $2,075 | 43.2% | 83.9% | 3.8% |
| Wallingford Center | 2.22 | 42.6 | 5.4% | 39.6% | 5.4% | 1961 | $1,283 | 36.5% | 91.5% | 5.0% |
| Cheshire | 2.63 | 45.4 | 6.6% | 13.7% | 5.6% | 1974 | $1,428 | 60.4% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| Plantsville | 2.39 | 46.8 | 8.2% | 21.2% | 4.8% | 1970 | $1,495 | 38.4% | 92.8% | 2.2% |
| Kensington | 2.48 | 47.5 | 7.5% | 16.7% | 4.8% | 1974 | $1,400 | 45.4% | 93.4% | 2.3% |
| Southington | 2.61 | 44.7 | 7.3% | 18.1% | 5.2% | 1975 | $1,590 | 44.8% | 94.8% | 4.1% |
| Middletown | 2.19 | 38.9 | 11.4% | 47.2% | 6.9% | 1966 | $1,488 | 39.9% | 93.6% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Elyria, OH · Santee, CA · Lake Havasu City, AZ · Lakeville, MN · Lebanon, TN · Piscataway, NJ · Pocatello, ID · Richland, WA · Rosemead, CA · San Gabriel, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Meriden. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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