Compare towns
Berlin vs Southington vs Suffield vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southington has the highest household income ($124k).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Kensington has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Southington | Suffield | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
43,803Highest |
15,702 |
9,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +17.8% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
45±1.4 9% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
48.7±4.2Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Kensington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
21%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.8%±4.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Kensington and Berlin 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% |
43.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±1.7 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±$11k 19% above CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$109,447±$15kLowest 14% above CT |
| Southington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$373,800±$10k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$330,400±$15kLowest 10% below CT |
| Suffield and Berlin 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 |
$1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,351±$181Lowest 9% below CT |
| Southington and Suffield 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 |
$6,206Lowest 7% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,385 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3 CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
64.2%±31Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Kensington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
4.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.8%±8.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Southington 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 | #51 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Berlin School District | Southington School District | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Southington High School | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.