Compare towns
Becket vs Erving 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%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Erving | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,703 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% 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% |
16.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Erving 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% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Erving 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Becket and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield 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±$82kHighest 36% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Becket and Middlefield 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 |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% 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 | $3,047 49% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Erving | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.