Compare towns
Becket vs Hardwick vs Tyringham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Tyringham has the highest household income ($163k).
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 | Hardwick | Tyringham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
2,684Highest |
494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest 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%±5 MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 23% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% 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 |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,632Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | 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.