Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Lowell 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 the most people working from home (17.4%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Lowell | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909 |
118,368Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
49±3.2 23% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Bernardston 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 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 |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
| Lowell and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lowell and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lowell | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.