Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Dalton vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Dalton | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909 |
6,256Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.