Compare towns
Bernardston vs Plainville vs Chester
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 most people working from home (12.7%).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
17,551Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$89,390±$6kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Chester and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$281,900±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,522 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston and Plainville 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.