Compare towns
Bernardston vs Devens vs Hingham vs Leyden
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).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Leyden has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Devens | Hingham | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164 |
1,723 |
24,283Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 23% above MA |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leyden and Hingham 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% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
| 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 |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,917±$451 9% above MA |
| Hingham and Leyden 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 |
$4,651 22% below 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% |
42.9%±100 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% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%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 |
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 |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest 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 | 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.