Compare towns
Becket vs Dedham vs Tyringham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Tyringham has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dedham | Tyringham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
25,237Highest |
494Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Tyringham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lee 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 23% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Tyringham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Tyringham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Becket and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 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 | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
36 min 23% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Dedham | — | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.