MeridenIA
A town of 168, settled in 1878.
Is Meriden a good place to live?
Of the 138 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower median rent than Meriden. Meriden has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
168 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Meriden: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Meriden, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Meriden.
Meriden stands out in Iowa and nationally, with fewer of its working residents who work locally
1.4% of working residents work locally in Meriden, against 31% in Iowa’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. The average trip to work in Meriden is 15 minutes. Only 10 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of residents below the poverty line than Meriden.
| Meriden | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 15 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $55,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The typical home in Meriden is valued at about $178K
The typical Meriden home is worth about $178,000, about the same as a year ago, 25% below the Iowa typical home.
Typical home value
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Meriden faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 70% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
In Meriden, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Meriden has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 9° and about 38 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Meriden is
Meriden beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 22% of adults binge drink in Meriden, above both Iowa’s towns (20%) and U.S. towns (16%). 75% of adults had a checkup this year in Meriden.
| Meriden | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 78% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 36% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 12% | 12% |
| What stands out | Meriden | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 16% | 11.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Meriden
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Meriden; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Meriden residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
99% of working residents leave Meriden for work
Where Meriden’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Meriden
City in Iowa, USA
Meriden is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 161 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,411 ft
- ZIP code
- 51037
Questions about Meriden
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Meriden, IA a good place to live?
Meriden has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.