Compare towns
Berlin vs Chaplin vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the highest household income ($114k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Waterford has the most renters (20.3% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berlin | Chaplin | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361Highest |
2,070Lowest |
19,673 |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
46±2.4 12% above CT |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$104,820±$9k 9% above CT |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$355,900±$14k about the CT average |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
| Waterford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,876 27% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #73 of 149 in CT | — | #80 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Learn · Waterford School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Parish Hill High School | Waterford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.