Compare towns

Berlin vs Sutton vs Watertown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Watertown has the most affordable homes ($334k 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.

MeasureBerlinSuttonWatertown
People
Population
20,361
9,452Lowest
22,253Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.7±3Highest
25% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
46.3±2.9
19% above U.S.
Berlin and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,598±$11k
41% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$101,691±$7kLowest
26% above U.S.
Sutton 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
13% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$333,500±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$88Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,275±$227
10% below U.S.
Berlin and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,291Highest
134% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$6,014Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.4%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.6%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #126 of 149 in CT
School district Berlin School District Sutton Watertown School District
High school in town Berlin High School Sutton High School Watertown High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5
12.6Highest
10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.