Compare towns
Southington vs Berlin vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southington has the most people working from home (17.3%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k 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 | Southington | Berlin | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,803 |
20,361Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45±1.4 9% above CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Berlin and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4% CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Southington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,800±$10k about the CT average |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
| Berlin and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
$1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
| Southington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,206 7% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Southington 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 | #51 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southington School District | Berlin School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Southington High School | Berlin High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.5Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.