Compare towns
Berlin vs Lisbon vs Waterford
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 people working from home (14.4%).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Waterford has the most renters (20.3% 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 | Lisbon | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361Highest |
4,211Lowest |
19,673 |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
44.5±5.2Lowest 8% above CT |
46±2.4 12% above CT |
| Berlin and Waterford 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% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon 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% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Waterford 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% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Waterford 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 |
$92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$104,820±$9k 9% above CT |
| Berlin and Waterford 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 |
$315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
$355,900±$14k about the CT average |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Lowest 6% below CT |
— | $1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,876 27% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon 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% |
6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2 CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Waterford 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #80 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Lisbon School District | Learn · Waterford School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | None in town | Waterford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.