Compare towns
New Britain vs Plainville vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Britain has the most renters (54.9% rent).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($375k median).
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 | New Britain | Plainville | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 74,223Highest |
17,551Lowest |
20,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
| Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
| New Britain and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±1.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| New Britain and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$45 16% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,846 12% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.1%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 19% below CT |
21 min 20% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
| Work from home | 8%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Plainville 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 | #149 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | New Britain High School | Plainville High School | Berlin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.