Compare towns
Leyden vs Blackstone vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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.
| Measure | Leyden | Blackstone | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
9,255Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49±3.2 23% above MA |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Bernardston and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Leyden and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Blackstone and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 22% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and Bernardston 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 | — | #207 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone-Millville | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.