Compare towns
Bernardston vs Townsend 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 oldest population (median age 49).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Greenfield has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Townsend | Greenfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
9,100 |
17,664Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Greenfield 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
39.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Greenfield 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$55,614±$7kLowest 47% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,107±$67Lowest 37% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,769 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.2%±7.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Greenfield and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
15.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 33% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #257 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | North Middlesex | Greenfield |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Greenfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
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.