Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Leverett 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%).
Leverett has the most people working from home (28.5%).
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 | Leverett | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909Highest |
1,608Lowest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Leverett 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% |
13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Leverett 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% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Leverett 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 |
$435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Leverett 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 |
$1,389±$135 21% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Leverett 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 |
$6,779Highest 13% above MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
10%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Leverett and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Leverett | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.