Compare towns
Leyden vs Jay 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
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Jay | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637 |
471Lowest |
2,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
49±3.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bernardston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bernardston and Jay 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 31% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
— | $1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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.