Compare towns
Berlin vs Suffield vs Willimantic vs New Britain
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
New Britain has the most kids (22% 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 | Suffield | Willimantic | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
15,702Lowest |
18,096 |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+1.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
34.3±1.2 17% below CT |
| Berlin and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Britain and Willimantic 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.6%±1.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Suffield 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
9.4%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$58,613±$2k 39% below CT |
| Suffield 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±$13k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$223,600±$6k 39% 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 |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,253±$45 16% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,846 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Willimantic 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
18.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
45.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 min 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
8%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Suffield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Suffield High School | — | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
10.9Lowest |
— | 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.