Compare towns
Wethersfield vs Berlin vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wethersfield has the most people working from home (18%).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($375k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Wethersfield | Berlin | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,250Highest |
20,361 |
17,551Lowest |
| Median age | 43.4±1.5Lowest 6% above CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.9% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Wethersfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Berlin and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$7,291 10% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 20% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
21 minHighest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Wethersfield 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Berlin School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Wethersfield High School | Berlin High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
11.5 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.