Compare towns
Berlin vs New Britain vs Watertown
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%).
New Britain has the most renters (54.9% rent).
Watertown has the most homeowners (83.9%).
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 | New Britain | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361Lowest |
74,223Highest |
22,253 |
| 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 |
46.3±2.9 13% above CT |
| Berlin and Watertown 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% |
17.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
23.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Watertown 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% |
38.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest 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±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Berlin and Watertown 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 |
$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT |
$333,500±$16k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,253±$45Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
| Berlin and Watertown 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 |
$6,014 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Watertown 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% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
22 min 19% below CT |
24 minHighest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
8%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Watertown 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 | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | New Britain High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
16.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.