Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Willimantic vs Meriden
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 highest household income ($114k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Willimantic | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
15,141Lowest |
18,096 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Berlin and Meriden 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 | — | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Plainfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Plainfield High School | — | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
10.3Lowest |
— | 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.