Compare towns
Deerfield vs Plainfield vs Conway vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Conway | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158Highest |
616Lowest |
1,755 |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Conway and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Conway and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$97,250±$11k 6% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| 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 26% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$395,900±$25k 30% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,797 3% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #156 of 282 in MA | — | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | — | Conway | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.