Meriden is a small town of 719 in Kansas, with a median household income of $69,449
and a 6.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Meriden stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Meriden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Meriden city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.9
Meriden's overall cost of living index is 85.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Meriden costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Meriden, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$138,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$791
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$69,449
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Meriden's violent crime rate is 215.3 per 100,000 residents
— 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
215.3 /100k
Property Crime
840.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Meriden is served primarily by Jefferson West.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Meriden, KS
National Avg
School District
Jefferson West
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Meriden sees average highs of 40.4°F in January
and 90.2°F in July,
with 41.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.1 inches of snow per year.
Meriden's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Meriden roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $138,400 and median rent is $791/month.
Meriden's violent crime rate is 215.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 840.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Meriden are operated by Jefferson West.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1. 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Meriden, KS has a population of 719, a median household income of $69,449, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Meriden averages 40.4°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.2 inches
with about 17.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Meriden, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66512.
The population of Meriden, Kansas is 719 with a median age of 34.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Meriden: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $138,400, median household income $69,449, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Meriden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
