Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Hatfield
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 youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Putnam | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| 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 85% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% 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% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.5 |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.