What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the most kids (17.6% under 18).

Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bernardston	Buzzards Bay
People
Population	2,164Lowest	2,909Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA	54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA
	Buzzards Bay and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	29.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA	$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA
	Buzzards Bay 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±$15kLowest 41% below MA	$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA	$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA
	Buzzards Bay and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Highest 25% below MA	$3,405Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Highest MA: 51.8%	37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Bernardston and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%	7.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Buzzards Bay and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Pioneer Valley	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.