Compare towns
Bernardston vs Sturbridge 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
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 | Sturbridge | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
9,960Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 23% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| 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 25% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,651 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Leyden and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Bernardston 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 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| 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.