Compare towns
Bernardston vs Plainville vs Leyden
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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
17,551Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bernardston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest 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% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston 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. |
$4,651 49% 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% |
42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Leyden 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston and Leyden 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | — |
| 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.