What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bernardston	Hampton
People
Population	2,164Highest	1,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49±3.2Lowest 26% above U.S.	51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S.
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Bernardston 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%	29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bernardston and Hampton 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 about the U.S. average	$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S.
	Hampton 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 about the U.S. average	$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Bernardston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S.
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Highest 45% above U.S.	$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Pioneer Valley	Hampton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.