Small-town community with colonial history and local farms
Settled in 1738, Bernardston is a historic Massachusetts town about 7 miles north of Greenfield. “The appeal to Bernardston is that it’s a small rural town,” says Karen Kelly, Bernardston’s town administrator and a local of five years. “The connection to beauty and the people is very fulfilling if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities.” Bernardston eateries and stores often serve fresh, locally sourced ingredients from nearby farms. “We are a right-to-farm town,” Kelly says. “Dairy, crops, and corn — we’ve got a lot of cows, chickens, goats and horses. There are some solar fields as well.” Neighbors know each other by name, and just about everyone attends community events. “Everybody kind of knows everybody; it’s a real sense of community and a beautiful place to live,” Kelly says.
Limited inventory in a rural housing market
Homes and their architectural designs span centuries, with some built as early as the 1700s to today. “Cape Cod is a prominent style, farmhouses — that kind of look,” Kelly says. Instead of sidewalk-lined subdivisions, homes are typically secluded along tree-lined roads, often with long driveways and multi-acre, wooded lots. Some properties have additions like detached workshops and barns. “There are historic homes, but there have been a few brand new homes going up,” Kelly says. “Farmers seem more like they’re ready to let go of their land. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be new construction.” Newer homes inspired by Colonial- and ranch-style architecture are generally larger, with features like multi-car garages and open floor plans. The median home price in Bernardston is about $430,000, which is about on par with the national median but higher than Greenfield's $300,000. “You wait for things to go up for sale,” Kelly says. “It’s a very limited market.”
Athletic and academic opportunities at Pioneer Valley Public Schools
Bernardston is part of Pioneer Valley Public Schools, which serves about 700 students and earns an overall C from Niche. “65% of our budget is paying for the schools, but there’s not a lot of tax dollars, so it’s tough,” Kelly says. “We need more families to move out here.” The C-plus-rated Pioneer Valley Regional School is the district’s only high school, offering dual-enrollment courses for college credit through Greenfield Community College and a successful athletics department. Kelly says the boys' basketball team won the state championship in 2025, the first state championship win since 1998.
Rustic green spaces with wildlife and mature trees
Willed to the town by Henry Cushman in 1863, the 2-acre Cushman Park features a Veterans Memorial and serves as a venue for community events. “It’s a big green space with park benches, shuffleboard and a little stream that runs through it,” Kelly says. “We like to do Movies in the Park there, but it’s a green space. We don’t want to clutter it with anything.” Fall River flows through town, where anglers can catch largemouth bass and chain pickerel, and the Darwin Scott Wildlife Management Area offers hiking and wildlife viewing. “Deer, bears and small populations of moose have taken up residence in the area,” Kelly says. At Pratt Field, there are youth sports like baseball and soccer. Golfers hit the links at the semi-private Crumpin-Fox Club, which offers a scenic 18-hole course lined with mature trees that turn red, yellow and orange in autumn.
Small businesses with charm and style
“We’re limited in restaurants, but they’re funky and fun,” Kelly says. “There’s a cool bakery, an antique store, a couple of pizza places, a country store.” Marshall’s Country Store is a one-stop shop for quick groceries, household items and deli sandwiches, but Kelly says there are more grocery store options in Greenfield. Most local businesses are set along U.S. Route 5 and Massachusetts Route 10, including The Farm Table, a rustic New American restaurant in a restored 19th-century farmhouse with a seasonal menu sourced from local farms. “It’s a nice restaurant, and a very beautiful building. Kringle Candle owns it,” Kelly says. Kringle Candle Company is headquartered in town and has a store across the street from The Farm Table. There's also Incandescent Brewery with local beer on tap, food trucks and occasional live music.
Town history and annual celebrations
“The town does have a great, rich history,” Kelly says. “It was first settled by survivors and families of soldiers who fought in the skirmishes of the 1600s.” The Bernardston Historical Museum is set on the top floor of the Bernardston Senior Center, formerly known as the Powers Institute — a 19th-century, Italianate schoolhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “It’s rich with trinkets and photos of all of the graduating classes that went through during the mid-1800s,” Kelly says.
There are also local events throughout the year, like the Memorial Day Parade and Kringle Candle Company’s tree lighting ceremony with Santa visits and cookie decorating. The Kiwanis Club of Bernardston sponsors local events, such as Scarecrow in the Park, one of the town’s most popular events. “The festival centers around judging the scarecrows, and there are different categories to win,” Kelly says. “There’s food, beer and all kinds of craft vendors and fun for kids, like games and face painting.”
Getting around from Bernardston
Route 10, Interstate 91, and Route 5 pass through Bernardston. I-91 and Route 5 lead 7 miles south to Greenfield, while Route 10 grants access to Boston, 96 miles away. Franklin Regional Transit Authority buses stop in Greenfield. “You have to drive, Kelly says. "But our senior center operates a little bus that takes our seniors to medical appointments." Baystate Franklin Medical Center is 7 miles away, and Bradley International Airport is 65 miles away.
Warm summers and some intense weather
Summers are warm and humid, and winters are cold, with 55 inches of snow annually. Due to heavy rainfall and its location within the Connecticut River floodplain, Franklin County is at moderate to severe risk of flooding and hurricanes. Some homes may require flood insurance.
