What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the most people working from home (12.7%).

Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bernardston	Union
People
Population	2,164Highest	944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49±3.2Lowest 26% above U.S.	49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S.
	Union 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 U.S.: 22%	16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bernardston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Union 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Union 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 about the U.S. average	$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S.
	Union and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,000±$15kHighest about the U.S. average	$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average
	Bernardston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553 9% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Lowest 45% above U.S.	$4,793Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bernardston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Pioneer Valley	Union School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.