Compare towns
Bernardston vs Sheffield vs Leyden
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 most kids (17.6% under 18).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Sheffield | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
3,330Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 23% above MA |
48.2±8Lowest 21% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Leyden 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% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leyden and Sheffield 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% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sheffield 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 |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Leyden and Sheffield 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 |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Sheffield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Sheffield 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 |
$4,520 25% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
21 min 29% below MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #250 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Southern Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Everett Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.