Compare towns
Berlin vs East Hampton 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 people working from home (14.4%).
East Hampton has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | East Hampton | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361 |
12,925Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
43.6±3.7 6% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Berlin and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and East Hampton 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% |
20.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and East Hampton 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% |
39% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$124,577±$11kHighest 30% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| East Hampton and Berlin 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 |
$349,000±$14k 5% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Berlin and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,393±$150 6% below CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
| Berlin and East Hampton 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 |
$6,681 about the CT average |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.7%±16.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Meriden 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
30 minHighest 11% above CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
12.7%±2.4 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Berlin and East Hampton 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 | #75 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | East Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | East Hampton High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.3Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.