Compare towns
Bernardston vs Everett vs Chester
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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
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 | Everett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
50,045Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Bernardston and Chester 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Chester and Everett 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston and Everett 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Everett | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.