What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	2,164Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Highest 23% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
	Bernardston and Lancaster 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%	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster 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%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Bernardston and Lancaster 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%	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bernardston and Lancaster 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 21% below MA	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
	Lancaster and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Lowest 25% below MA	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.