Compare towns
Berlin vs Heath 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%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Heath | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Highest |
765 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Berlin and Heath 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 |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,292±$558Lowest 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 |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 17% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | — |
| High school 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.