Compare towns
Berlin vs Meriden vs Kensington
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).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Kensington has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Meriden | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361 |
60,545Highest |
9,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+17.8%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
48.7±4.2Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Kensington 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.8%±4.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Kensington 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% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Meriden 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 |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$109,447±$15k 14% above CT |
| Berlin and Kensington 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 |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$330,400±$15k 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
$1,351±$181 9% below CT |
| Berlin and Kensington 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 |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
$6,385 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.2%±31Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Kensington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below CT |
23 minHighest 13% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.8%±8.4 CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Kensington 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Berlin School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | — |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
16.2Highest |
— |
| 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.