Compare towns
Becket vs Gardner vs Westhampton 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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Westhampton has the most expensive homes ($413k 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 | Gardner | Westhampton | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
21,148Highest |
1,552 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Westhampton 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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±$29k 23% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Westhampton 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Westhampton and Becket 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 |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% 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 |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Westhampton 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Gardner | Hampshire · Westhampton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Hampshire Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.