Compare towns
Becket vs Halifax vs Hanson
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%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Halifax | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Lowest |
7,748 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Becket and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Becket and Hanson 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% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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 |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Becket and Hanson 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Hanson 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.