Compare towns
Bernardston vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Gardner | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
21,148Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above 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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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±$10k 21% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Chester and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kHighest 41% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Bernardston and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Bernardston and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516 25% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,522Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Gardner | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.