Compare towns
Barre vs Becket vs Tyringham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Tyringham has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Barre | Becket | Tyringham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
1,962 |
494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Barre and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,050±$393 40% below MA |
| Becket and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
36 minLowest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.