Compare towns
Berlin vs Hudson vs Plainfield
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%).
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Hudson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
20,077Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Hudson 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. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hudson | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.