Compare towns
Berlin vs Boylston vs Killingly vs Merrimac
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 most people working from home (29.1%).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
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 | Boylston | Killingly | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
4,948 |
17,867Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Berlin-Boylston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.