What stands out worked out from the figures below

Becket has the oldest population (median age 49.6).

Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Becket	Barrington
People
Population	1,962Lowest	9,489Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.	38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Becket and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barrington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average	$110,323±$14kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Barrington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S.	$399,100±$30kHighest 20% above U.S.
	Barrington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S.	$1,867±$194Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Becket and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average	$7,121Highest 128% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	63.1%±25.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Becket and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barrington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#65 of 120 in NH
School district	Central Berkshire	Barrington School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.