Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainville vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (28 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 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
9,943Highest |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
| Salisbury 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainville and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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 17% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
| Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
| Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Plainville | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.