What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the most people working from home (12.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Bernardston	Clarksburg
People
Population	2,164Highest	1,667Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA	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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	17.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bernardston and Clarksburg 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%	28.8%±1.3Highest 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%	4.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Clarksburg 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±$10kHighest 21% below MA	$77,143±$11kLowest 26% below MA
	Bernardston and Clarksburg 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	$239,900±$18kLowest 57% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA	$1,125±$190Lowest 36% below MA
	Bernardston and Clarksburg 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	$2,993Lowest 50% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	65.2%±56.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Clarksburg 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%	4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	24 minHighest 18% below MA
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6%	5.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bernardston and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Pioneer Valley	Clarksburg
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.