Compare towns
Berlin vs Madison 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Waterford has the youngest population (median age 46).
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 | Madison | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361Highest |
17,616Lowest |
19,673 |
| Median age | 48.7±3 18% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
46±2.4Lowest 12% above CT |
| Madison and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Berlin and Waterford 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% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Madison 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% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Madison 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 |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$104,820±$9kLowest 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$355,900±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Lowest 6% below CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,651±$153 11% above CT |
| Madison and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291 10% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$4,876Lowest 27% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Waterford 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% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.4%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 |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #73 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #80 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Madison School District | Learn · Waterford School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Daniel Hand High School | Waterford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.