Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainville 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 most expensive homes ($375k median).
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 | Plainville | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361 |
17,551Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Berlin and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Plainville 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% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
21 min 20% below CT |
23 minHighest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Plainville High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.4Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.