Compare towns
Berlin vs Ellington vs Watertown
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Watertown has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Ellington | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361 |
16,455Lowest |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
46.3±2.9 13% above CT |
| Berlin and Watertown 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% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Berlin 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% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Watertown 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% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Ellington 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 |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$101,691±$7kLowest 6% above CT |
| Ellington 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 |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
$333,500±$16kLowest 9% below CT |
| Berlin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,275±$227Lowest 14% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$6,751 about the CT average |
$6,014Lowest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
24 min 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Ellington School District | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Ellington High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.