Compare towns
Meriden vs Middlefield vs Suffield vs Berlin
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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Middlefield | Suffield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
4,243Lowest |
15,702 |
20,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
48.7±3 18% above CT |
| Middlefield and Berlin 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% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Berlin 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Berlin 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% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Middlefield 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
| Suffield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$374,600±$13k about the CT average |
| Suffield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,402±$88 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Berlin 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Regional School District 13 | Suffield School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town | Suffield High School | Berlin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.