Compare towns
Bernardston vs Hardwick vs Leyden
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).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Hardwick | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
2,684Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 23% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest 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%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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±$10k 21% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Leyden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Bernardston 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Leyden 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% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston and Leyden 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 | 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.