Compare towns

Bernardston vs Devens vs Hingham

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 affordable homes ($332k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

MeasureBernardstonDevensHingham
People
Population
2,164
1,723Lowest
24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
MA: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49±3.2Highest
23% above MA
48.6±4.3
22% above MA
48.4±2.4Lowest
21% above MA
Bernardston and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.6%±3.2
MA: 19.4%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.9%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
14%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
Hingham 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%
MA: 47.3%
21.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±4.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Devens 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
21% below MA
$189,250±$63kHighest
82% above MA
$178,390±$15k
72% above MA
Devens and Hingham 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
$556,800±$96k
about the MA average
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,283±$553Lowest
27% below MA
$1,500±$539
15% below MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
Hingham and Devens 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
$5,556
7% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±15.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12
MA: 51.8%
Devens and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
MA: 10%
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.3%
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
33% below MA
28 min
4% below MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
12.7%±6.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±11.5
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Hingham and Devens 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 — — #14 of 282 in MA
School district Pioneer Valley — Hingham
High school in town None in town — Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.9
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.