Compare towns
Becket vs Halifax vs Tyringham vs Oakham
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%).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
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 | Tyringham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
847 |
494Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
59.2±2.7Highest 52% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Oakham 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Tyringham and Halifax 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Tyringham 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 about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$163,333±$28kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$699,400±$96kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,050±$393 26% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Becket and Oakham 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 |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,632 49% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Halifax School District | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.