Compare towns
Bernardston vs Hampton vs Union
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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Hampton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Highest |
1,647 |
944Lowest |
| 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. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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 about the U.S. average |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Bernardston and Union 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 | $4,516 45% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.