Compare towns
Becket vs Exeter vs Westhampton 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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Westhampton has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Westhampton | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
16,151Highest |
1,552 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westhampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Westhampton 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Westhampton 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,304±$229Lowest 8% below 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 |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,476 108% above U.S. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Westhampton 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampshire · Westhampton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Hampshire Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.