Compare towns
Berlin vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks 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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
9,292Lowest |
12,579 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Berlin and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks 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 |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
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.