Compare towns
Berlin vs Killingly vs Watertown vs East Lyme
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).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Watertown has the most homeowners (83.9%).
East Lyme has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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 | Killingly | Watertown | East Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
17,867Lowest |
22,253Highest |
18,721 |
| Median age | 48.7±3 18% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.3±2.9 13% above CT |
49.1±2.4Highest 19% above CT |
| East Lyme 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.8%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Berlin 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Lyme 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.6% CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
$105,044±$13k 10% above CT |
| Berlin and East Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$333,500±$16k 9% below CT |
$412,600±$18kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
$1,462±$94Highest about the CT average |
| East Lyme 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,014 9% below CT |
$6,087 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±11Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Lyme and Berlin 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
5.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
24 min 10% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
22.2%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
| East Lyme 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT | #35 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Watertown School District | East Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Killingly High School | Watertown High School | East Lyme High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.6 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.