Compare towns
Southington vs Sutton vs Berlin vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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 | Sutton | Berlin | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,803 |
9,452Lowest |
20,361 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±1.4 16% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.7±3Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Meriden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9k 54% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$113,598±$11k 41% above U.S. |
$71,253±$4kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,800±$10k 12% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$374,600±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,472±$77Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,402±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,294±$72 8% below U.S. |
| 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 99% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,291Highest 134% above U.S. |
$5,129Lowest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #73 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southington School District | Sutton | Berlin School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Southington High School | Sutton High School | Berlin High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.6 |
11.5Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.