Compare towns

Berlin vs Preston vs Brooklyn

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%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).

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.

MeasureBerlinPrestonBrooklyn
People
Population
20,361Highest
4,821Lowest
8,517
Median age
48.7±3Highest
18% above CT
46.2±7
12% above CT
45.6±2.5Lowest
11% above CT
Berlin and Preston 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%
18.7%±4.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn 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%
23%±4.7
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Berlin and Preston 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%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
23.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
Berlin and Brooklyn 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
$116,648±$27kHighest
22% above CT
$96,207±$15kLowest
about the CT average
Preston 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±$13kHighest
about the CT average
$361,900±$13k
about the CT average
$315,200±$28kLowest
14% below CT
Berlin and Preston 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
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
Preston 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
$4,749
29% below CT
$4,538Lowest
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.4%±11.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Berlin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.4%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
CT: 66.5%
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1970Lowest
3 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below CT
22 min
17% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
Work from home
14.4%±4.6Highest
CT: 16%
10.3%±6Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
Berlin and Brooklyn 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 #93 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT
School district Berlin School District Preston School District Brooklyn School District
High school in town Berlin High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5
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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.