What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampton	Bernardston
People
Population	1,647Lowest	2,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-1.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S.	49±3.2Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bernardston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S.	$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S.	$332,000±$15kHighest about the U.S. average
	Bernardston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S.	$4,516Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hampton School District	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.