Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Suffield vs New Britain
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
New Britain has the most renters (54.9% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Suffield | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
15,141Lowest |
15,702 |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +1.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±1.6Highest 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.6%±1.1Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
19.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.4%±1Highest 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below 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 |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,253±$45 16% 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,846 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±4.6 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
18.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
22 min 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
8%±1.4Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.