Compare towns
Bernardston vs Northbridge vs Chester
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).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
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 | Northbridge | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
16,458Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Bernardston and Chester 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% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Northbridge and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Bernardston and Northbridge 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 |
$4,821Highest 20% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Bernardston 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Northbridge | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.