Compare towns
Bernardston vs Chaplin vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Chaplin | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Highest |
2,070 |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$89,390±$6k 11% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$281,900±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,524Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,522 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.