Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Deerfield 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%).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
Bernardston has the most kids (17.6% under 18).
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 | Deerfield | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909 |
5,158Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Deerfield 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% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Deerfield 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% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Deerfield 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% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Deerfield and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Deerfield 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 |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bernardston and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
20 min 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Deerfield · Frontier | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.