Compare towns
Deerfield vs Plainfield vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Deerfield | Plainfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
15,141Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% 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 | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Plainfield School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.