What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Bernardston	Chester
People
Population	2,164Highest	1,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Highest 23% above MA	45.9±3.7Lowest 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%	24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	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 MA: 17.9%	16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bernardston and Chester 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 21% 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±$15kHighest 41% below MA	$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA	$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA
	Bernardston and Chester 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	$4,522Highest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	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%Highest MA: 10%	1.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6%	7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bernardston and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
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

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.