Compare towns
Berlin vs Hamden 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 most expensive homes ($375k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Watertown has the most homeowners (83.9%).
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 | Hamden | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361Lowest |
61,045Highest |
22,253 |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
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%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Berlin and Watertown 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% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Berlin and Watertown 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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$333,500±$16k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,275±$227Lowest 14% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291 10% above CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,014Lowest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
24 minHighest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Hamden High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.