Compare towns
Bernardston vs Sutton vs Webster
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Bernardston and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Webster 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Bernardston and Webster 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Webster 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.