What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).

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	Unity
People
Population	2,164Highest	1,375Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Lowest 26% above U.S.	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bernardston and Unity 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%	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bernardston and Unity 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	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.
	Unity 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	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.
	Unity and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Lowest 45% above U.S.	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bernardston and Unity 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%	6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bernardston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Pioneer Valley	Unity 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.