Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainville 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%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Plainville | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
17,551Highest |
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. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% 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% |
15.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainville and Hatfield 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%±2.8Lowest 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%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. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.