Compare towns
Bernardston vs Devens 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 most people working from home (28.5%).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Highest |
1,723 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 23% above MA |
48.6±4.3Lowest 22% 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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Leyden 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% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest 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 |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden 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 |
$5,556Highest 7% below 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% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Leyden 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% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.