Compare towns
Bernardston vs Ira vs Leyden
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).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Ira | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Highest |
381Lowest |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
| Ira and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bernardston and Leyden 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Leyden 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bernardston and Ira 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 about the U.S. average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Leyden 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | — |
| High school 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.