Compare towns
Berlin vs Hampton vs Southington 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Southington has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Hampton | Southington | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
1,647Lowest |
43,803 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3 18% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
45±1.4 9% 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%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
21%±1.6 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% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
43.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Southington 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Southington 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 |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$373,800±$10k about the CT average |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Berlin and Southington 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 |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Southington 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,206 7% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Southington 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 | — | #51 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Hampton School District | Southington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | None in town | Southington High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
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.