Compare towns
Barnet vs Becket vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sharon has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Barnet | Becket | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,962Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Becket and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Becket and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Becket and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Central Berkshire | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None 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.