Compare towns
Devens vs Harvard vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the oldest housing (typical home built 1950).
Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Bernardston has the most affordable homes ($332k median).
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 | Devens | Harvard | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
6,927Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
| Bernardston and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Devens 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Harvard | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.