Compare towns
Bernardston vs Unity vs East Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
East Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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.
| Measure | Bernardston | Unity | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
1,375Lowest |
2,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
52.1±6.4 34% above U.S. |
| Unity and East Brookfield 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bernardston and East Brookfield 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% |
26.7%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and East Brookfield 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bernardston and East Brookfield 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 about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$81,042±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$15k about the U.S. average |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$381,200±$30kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,142±$33Lowest 19% below 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 | $4,516 45% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,430Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest 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 | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.