Compare towns
Coventry vs Berlin vs Putnam vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Coventry | Berlin | Putnam | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,326 |
20,361Highest |
9,292 |
5,300Lowest |
| Median age | 45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
48.7±3 18% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Berlin and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Berlin and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,284 20% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±23.8 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 1 yr older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry School District | Berlin School District | Putnam School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Berlin High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.