Compare towns
Berlin vs Franklin vs 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 expensive homes ($375k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% 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 | Franklin | Hampton | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
2,004 |
1,647Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3 18% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Hampton and Berlin 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% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Berlin 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest 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±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Berlin and Hampton 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 |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Berlin and Meriden 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 |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | — | — | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Franklin School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | None in town | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | — | 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.