Compare towns
Meriden vs Killingly vs Berlin vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Meriden | Killingly | Berlin | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
17,867Lowest |
20,361 |
29,040 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Berlin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.9% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1Lowest 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 | $71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Berlin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129 23% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,291 10% above CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 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 | 13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Berlin School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Killingly High School | Berlin High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.5 |
11.6 |
| 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.