Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Plainfield vs Whately 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
Williamsburg has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
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 | Williamsburg | Plainfield | Whately | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
15,141Highest |
1,499Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamsburg and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21k 30% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$116,563±$15k 44% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37k 21% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761 85% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Plainfield School District | Whately | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.