Compare towns
Devens vs Strafford vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Strafford | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,372Lowest |
2,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Devens and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Devens and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
| Devens and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,516Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.