The Town FilesMeriden, Kansas
City in Jefferson County · population 744 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,400
- Household income
- $76,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 34.4
Meriden is a city of 744 people in Jefferson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $176,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for families than 92% of Kansas towns, quieter than 82% of Kansas towns, more upscale than 75% of Kansas towns.
How Meriden ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Meriden is worth $176,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $76,667, which is more affordable than 43% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 75.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Meriden | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,400 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $839 | $815 |
| Median household income | $76,667 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 75.8% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Meriden
| People | Meriden | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Meriden
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.1 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 50 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Meriden since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1966 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 16. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 18 deaths and 606 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 183 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 19, 1981.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| May 28, 2019 | Severe Storm | EM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding |
| July 20, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 3,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,468 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Meriden itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Meriden
3 public schools with 847 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson West Elementary School | PK-4 | 326 | 16.3 |
| Jefferson West Middle | 5-8 | 266 | 15.6 |
| Jefferson West High | 9-12 | 255 | 14.2 |
Towns near Meriden
- Ozawkie, KS6.3 mi · 638 people · home $214,300
- Hoyt, KS8.5 mi · 593 people · home $170,300
- Tecumseh, KS10.7 mi · 696 people · home $200,400
- Valley Falls, KS11.8 mi · 1,092 people · home $122,700
- Perry, KS12.6 mi · 852 people · home $174,000
- Topeka, KS12.7 mi · 126,587 people · home $144,200
- Oskaloosa, KS13.7 mi · 1,110 people · home $183,100
- Lecompton, KS13.9 mi · 588 people · home $203,800
Meriden questions
Is Meriden, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Meriden scores better for retirees than 50% of Kansas towns and quieter than 82%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Meriden?
The median owner-occupied home in Meriden is valued at $176,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,667, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in Meriden?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17.1 inches of snow.
Does Meriden get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Meriden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 1966. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)