Compare towns
Bernardston vs Buzzards Bay vs Lee
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 most kids (17.6% under 18).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
2,909 |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay 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% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Lee 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 |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Lee 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Bernardston 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 33% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Lee 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 | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| 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.