Compare towns
Bernardston vs Lancaster vs Gill
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 oldest population (median age 49).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Gill has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
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 | Lancaster | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
8,606Highest |
1,740Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Bernardston and Gill 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% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Gill 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% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Gill 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill 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 21% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,193±$246Lowest 32% below MA |
| Lancaster and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516 25% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,318Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
21 min 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Nashoba | Gill-Montague |
| 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 |
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.