Compare towns
Southington vs Suffield vs Berlin vs Stratford
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 highest household income ($124k).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
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 | Suffield | Berlin | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,803 |
15,702Lowest |
20,361 |
52,790Highest |
| Median age | 45±1.4 9% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
45.7±1.4 11% above CT |
| Berlin and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Berlin and Southington 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.7%±1.6 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$95,815±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Southington and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$372,200±$8kLowest about the CT average |
| Suffield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,472±$77 about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,402±$88Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,706±$75Highest 15% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,206Lowest 7% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,291 10% above CT |
$7,420Highest 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
59.3%±7.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1958Lowest 9 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
14.6%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Southington 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT | #134 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southington School District | Suffield School District | Berlin School District | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | Southington High School | Suffield High School | Berlin High School | Stratford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.9Lowest |
11.5 |
13.9Highest |
| 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.