Compare towns
Meriden vs Windham vs Plainfield 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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Berlin has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Windham | Plainfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
23,961 |
15,141Lowest |
20,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #73 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 | Plainfield School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Windham High School | Plainfield High School | Berlin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
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.