Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Deerfield vs Clinton
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Deerfield | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
15,141 |
5,158 |
15,563Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Clinton 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Clinton 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Clinton 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Plainfield School District | Deerfield · Frontier | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Frontier Regional | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.