Compare towns
Meriden vs Killingly vs Berlin vs Norwich
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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Berlin has the highest household income ($114k).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
17,867Lowest |
20,361 |
39,973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Killingly 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 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±$4k 26% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Berlin and Meriden 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 |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$4,703 29% below 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% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Killingly 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 | #133 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Killingly High School | Berlin High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.5 |
14.8 |
| 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.