Compare towns
Becket vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Middlefield
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%).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Douglas | Sutton | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Sutton 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Douglas and Sutton 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 |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| 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 49% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Douglas | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.