What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).

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	Pelham
People
Population	2,164Highest	1,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Highest 23% above MA	45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA
	Bernardston and Pelham 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%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pelham and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pelham and Bernardston 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%	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bernardston and Pelham 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	$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA
	Pelham and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA	$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA	$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA
	Bernardston and Pelham 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	$7,472Highest 25% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.7%±35.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pelham 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 MA: 10%	10.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	23 minHighest 21% below MA
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
School district	Pioneer Valley	Pelham
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.