Compare towns

Berlin vs New Britain vs Suffield

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 oldest population (median age 48.7).
New Britain has the most renters (54.9% rent).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).

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.

MeasureBerlinNew BritainSuffield
People
Population
20,361
74,223Highest
15,702Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
48.7±3Highest
18% above CT
34.3±1.2Lowest
17% below CT
44.5±1.7
8% above CT
Berlin and Suffield 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%±1.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
New Britain 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%
14.6%±1.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2
CT: 18.5%
Berlin and Suffield 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%
19.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
9.4%±1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
New Britain and Berlin 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
$58,613±$2kLowest
39% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
Suffield and Berlin 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
$223,600±$6kLowest
39% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
Suffield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$88
6% below CT
$1,253±$45Lowest
16% below CT
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
Suffield 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
$5,846Lowest
12% below CT
$6,456
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.4%±11.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
55.2%±4.6
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Berlin and New Britain 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%
18.1%Highest
CT: 10%
4.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
CT: 66.5%
45.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below CT
22 min
19% below CT
26 minHighest
3% below CT
Work from home
14.4%±4.6
CT: 16%
8%±1.4Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 #149 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT
School district Berlin School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council Suffield School District
High school in town Berlin High School New Britain High School Suffield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5
16.2Highest
10.9Lowest
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.