Compare towns
Becket vs Dedham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
25,237Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest 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% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 23% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above 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 |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Dedham 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.