Compare towns

Bernardston vs Springfield vs Greenfield

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 highest household income ($82k).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Greenfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

MeasureBernardstonSpringfieldGreenfield
People
Population
2,164Lowest
154,749Highest
17,664
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
49±3.2Highest
23% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
44.6±2.1
12% above MA
Bernardston and Greenfield 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%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.3%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.9%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Greenfield 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%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
39.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,940±$10kHighest
21% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$55,614±$7k
47% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,000±$15kHighest
41% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$263,100±$16k
53% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,283±$553Highest
27% below MA
$1,144±$55
35% below MA
$1,107±$67Lowest
37% below MA
Bernardston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,516
25% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$4,769Highest
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±15.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
63.2%±7.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Greenfield and Springfield 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%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
15.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1947Lowest
17 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
33% below MA
20 minHighest
31% below MA
17 minLowest
40% below MA
Work from home
12.7%±6.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11.9%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
Bernardston and Greenfield 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 — #276 of 282 in MA #257 of 282 in MA
School district Pioneer Valley Springfield Greenfield
High school in town None in town Springfield Central High Greenfield High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2Highest
10.9Lowest
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.