Signals
06450
06708
Opportunity
22 · Bottom 3%
vs17 · Bottom 1%
Growth
45 · Bottom 41%
vs52 · Top 47%
Climate
62 · Bottom 23%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Housing affordability
84 · Top 43%
vs85 · Top 42%
Access
88 · Bottom 34%
vs85 · Bottom 28%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 42%
vs50 · Bottom 34%
Measured values
| Metric | 06450 | 06708 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,694 | 29,594 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,250 | $67,364 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,885 | $34,563 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,564/sq mi | 3,132/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $242,600 | $218,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,355 | $1,313 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.3% | 59.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% | 7.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -4.6% | -5.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 22.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 16.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 25 | 116 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.4 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 212.5% | 222.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.9" | 44.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 33 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 29.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.93 | 13.08 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 74.5% | 71.9% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 06450 — Meriden, CT · 06708 — Waterbury, CT · How this is calculated: methodology