Compare towns
Plainfield vs Berkley vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Plainfield | Berkley | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
6,829Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
43.4±4.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berkley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berkley and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Berkley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
— | $868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,018Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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 | — | #155 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Berkley | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.