What stands out worked out from the figures below

Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Becket	Hampstead
People
Population	1,962Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.	45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Becket and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead 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 U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead and Becket 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampstead and Becket 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	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Hampstead 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±$82kLowest 9% above U.S.	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S.	$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Becket and Hampstead 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	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Becket and Hampstead 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampstead 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	—	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Central Berkshire	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.