Compare towns
Berlin vs Hatfield vs Plainfield
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%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Hatfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Highest |
3,325 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Hatfield 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% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Hatfield 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 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1 |
— |
| 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.