Compare towns
Berlin vs Meriden vs Upton vs Southington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Upton | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
60,545Highest |
8,189Lowest |
43,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
45±1.4 16% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$71,253±$4kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$124,309±$9k 54% above U.S. |
| Upton and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$373,800±$10k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,294±$72 8% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,472±$77Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Southington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291 134% above U.S. |
$5,129Lowest 64% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,206 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Blackstone Valley | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
16.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.