Compare towns
Hatfield vs Heath vs Plainfield vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Hatfield | Heath | Plainfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
765 |
616Lowest |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
— | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Berlin 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | — | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.