Compare towns

Berlin vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Clinton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).

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.

MeasureBerlinBrooklynPlainfieldClinton
People
Population
3,378Lowest
8,517
15,141
15,563Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+13.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±2.8Highest
28% above U.S.
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
38.6±2.7
about the U.S. average
Berlin and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.1%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Clinton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,336±$12kHighest
50% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$89,781±$10k
11% above U.S.
Berlin and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,600±$55kHighest
85% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$387,300±$19k
16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,402±$76
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$4,654
49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±6.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
54.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #61 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #246 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston Brooklyn School District Plainfield School District Clinton
High school in town None in town None in town Plainfield High School Clinton Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.3Lowest
12.8Highest
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.