Compare towns
Berlin vs Pelham 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 expensive homes ($617k median).
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Pelham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,335Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
45±8.4 16% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Pelham 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% |
21%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Plainfield 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% |
26.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Pelham 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. |
$447,600±$33k 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,205±$560 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,472Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Pelham 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% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Pelham | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.