Compare towns
Berlin vs Wethersfield vs Clinton 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Wethersfield has the most people working from home (18%).
Clinton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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 | Wethersfield | Clinton | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361 |
27,250 |
13,377Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.7±3 18% above CT |
43.4±1.5 6% above CT |
50.5±3Highest 23% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
| Clinton and Berlin 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% |
21.1%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Wethersfield 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% |
20.4%±2 CT: 18.5% |
24.1%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Clinton 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% CT: 42.5% |
54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
43.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Meriden 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 |
$126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$124,824±$14k 30% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Wethersfield and Clinton 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 |
$324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
$380,000±$14kHighest 4% above CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Clinton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,395±$105 6% below CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
| Berlin and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291 10% above CT |
$7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$6,151 7% below CT |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
43.5%±14.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Meriden 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% |
6.9% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
80.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
21 min 20% below CT |
29 minHighest 10% above CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Wethersfield 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | #81 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Clinton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Wethersfield High School | The Morgan School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.8 |
9.7Lowest |
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.