Compare towns
Bernardston vs Dalton vs Gill
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Dalton | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
6,256Highest |
1,740Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 23% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dalton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Bernardston 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% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill 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±$10k 21% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$90,208±$14kHighest 13% below MA |
| Gill 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±$15k 41% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$340,100±$17kHighest 39% below MA |
| Gill and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,193±$246 32% below MA |
| Bernardston and Gill 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 |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,318 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
22 minHighest 24% below MA |
21 min 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gill and Bernardston 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Central Berkshire | Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.