Compare towns
Devens vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Devens 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Needham 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
| 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% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Pioneer Valley |
| High school 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.