Compare towns
Bernardston vs Ayer vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Bernardston | Ayer | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
3,098Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Bernardston and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Chester and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Bernardston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,911Highest 18% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Bernardston 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Gateway |
| High school 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.