Compare towns
Southington vs Windsor Locks 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
Southington has the highest household income ($124k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,803Highest |
12,579Lowest |
15,141 |
20,361 |
| Median age | 45±1.4 9% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above 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%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest 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% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest 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 |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,402±$88 6% 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southington School District | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Southington High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Berlin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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.