Compare towns

Williamsburg vs Plympton vs Berlin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamsburg has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Plympton has the most kids (21.6% 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.

MeasureWilliamsburgPlymptonBerlin
People
Population
2,694Lowest
2,935
3,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%
MA: +7.4%
+10.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50±2.4Highest
25% above MA
46.4±4.2Lowest
16% above MA
49.7±2.8
24% above MA
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
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±5Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Plympton and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±3.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
30.1%±5.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Berlin and Williamsburg 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
MA: 47.3%
38.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,792±$21kLowest
about the MA average
$126,736±$20kHighest
22% above MA
$121,336±$12k
17% above MA
Plympton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$403,100±$37kLowest
28% below MA
$517,800±$52k
8% below MA
$616,600±$55kHighest
10% above MA
Berlin and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$228
19% below MA
$555±$148Lowest
69% below MA
$2,420±$933Highest
37% above MA
Berlin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,761Lowest
4% below MA
$6,628
11% above MA
$7,116Highest
19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61%±28Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.8%±40.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±19.7
MA: 51.8%
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
MA: 10%
10.3%Highest
MA: 10%
5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%
MA: 62.5%
93.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
77.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1992Highest
28 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
13% below MA
33 min
13% above MA
34 minHighest
17% above MA
Work from home
26.5%±6.7
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
29.1%±6.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
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 — #110 of 282 in MA #61 of 282 in MA
School district Williamsburg Plympton Berlin-Boylston
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.