Compare towns
Berlin vs Preston 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 people working from home (14.4%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Preston | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361 |
4,821Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below 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% |
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% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest 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% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Meriden 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 |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| 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 |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
23 minHighest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Preston 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 | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 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.