Compare towns
Berlin vs Halifax vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Plympton has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Halifax | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
7,748Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
| Berlin and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Plympton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Berlin and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Berlin and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$6,628Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Plympton 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Halifax | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.