Compare towns
Addison vs Becket vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Addison | Becket | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175 |
1,962Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Addison and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Addison and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461 43% above U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Becket and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school 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.