Compare towns
Berlin vs Preston vs Southington
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).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Southington has the most people working from home (17.3%).
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 | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361 |
4,821Lowest |
43,803Highest |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
45±1.4Lowest 9% 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%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Berlin and Preston 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% |
21%±1.6Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,598±$11kLowest 19% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
| Southington and Preston 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±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$373,800±$10k about the CT average |
| Berlin and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
| Southington and Preston 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 |
$6,206 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
24 minHighest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Southington 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Preston School District | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | None in town | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.