Compare towns
Berlin vs Cromwell vs Killingly vs Meriden
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 most expensive homes ($375k median).
Cromwell has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
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 | Cromwell | Killingly | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
14,334Lowest |
17,867 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
43.5±2.5 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Berlin and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Killingly 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% |
22%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% CT: 42.5% |
49.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Cromwell 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 |
$110,596±$10k 15% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Berlin and Cromwell 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 |
$325,200±$22k 11% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,628±$154Highest 9% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Cromwell and Berlin 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 |
$6,137 8% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
61%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Cromwell 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cromwell 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 | #69 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Cromwell School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Cromwell High School | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.