What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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	Hardwick
People
Population	1,962Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	Becket and Hardwick 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%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick 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 MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hardwick 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 MA: 47.3%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick 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±$29kHighest 23% below MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Becket and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,000±$82kHighest 36% below MA	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
	Becket and Hardwick 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	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
	Becket and Hardwick 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	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Becket and Hardwick 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%	11%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Becket and Hardwick 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	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.