Compare towns
Becket vs Bow vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Becket | Bow | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
8,335Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 49% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Becket 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 |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.