Compare towns
Berlin vs Brooklyn vs Plainville
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Berlin | Brooklyn | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
8,517 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Plainville 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% 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% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Brooklyn 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. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% 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% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Plainville 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% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Brooklyn School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.