Compare towns
Bernardston vs Ayer vs Clarksburg
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 (+14.2%).
Clarksburg has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Bernardston | Ayer | Clarksburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
8,645Highest |
1,667Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 23% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.8±7.1Highest 25% above MA |
| Clarksburg and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Clarksburg 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 |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$77,143±$11kLowest 26% below MA |
| Ayer 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 |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$239,900±$18kLowest 57% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,125±$190Lowest 36% below MA |
| Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516 25% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$2,993Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
65.2%±56.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Clarksburg 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.6%±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 | Ayer Shirley School District | Clarksburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.