What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% 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.

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

Measure	Bernardston	Hardwick
People
Population	2,164Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Highest 23% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	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 MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Bernardston 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%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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 MA: 47.3%	30.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick 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±$10kHighest 21% below MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA	$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA
	Hardwick and Bernardston 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	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
	Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Highest 25% below MA	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick 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 MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bernardston and Hardwick 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	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.