Compare towns
Devens vs Thompson 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%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Devens | Thompson | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
9,337Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Bernardston 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Bernardston 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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 | $5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Thompson 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.