Compare towns
Bernardston vs Epping vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Epping | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
7,430Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Epping 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 about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Epping and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516 45% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Epping School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.