Compare towns
Waterford vs Niantic vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has the youngest population (median age 46).
Niantic has the most people working from home (20.8%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Waterford | Niantic | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,673 |
3,123Lowest |
20,361Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46±2.4Lowest 12% above CT |
58.4±2.7Highest 42% above CT |
48.7±3 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±5.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
35.4%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,820±$9k 9% above CT |
$81,250±$16kLowest 15% below CT |
$113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,900±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$396,000±$38kHighest 8% above CT |
$374,600±$13k about the CT average |
| Niantic and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
$1,478±$259 about the CT average |
$1,402±$88Lowest 6% below CT |
| Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,876Lowest 27% below CT |
$6,311 5% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.4%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
24 minHighest 9% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.8%±12.3Highest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Niantic 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 | #80 of 149 in CT | — | #73 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Learn · Waterford School District | — | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Waterford High School | — | Berlin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.