Compare towns
Waterford vs Windsor Locks vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Windsor Locks | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,673 |
12,579Lowest |
20,361Highest |
| Median age | 46±2.4 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 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±$14k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Berlin and Waterford 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 |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,402±$88 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,876 27% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.4%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 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 | 4.6% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
22 minHighest 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Learn · Waterford School District | Windsor Locks School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Waterford High School | Windsor Locks High School | Berlin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
8.9Lowest |
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.