Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909 |
5,719Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay 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% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay 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% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Lee 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 |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Lee 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
20 min 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lee | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| 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.