Compare towns
Becket vs Lee vs Middlefield
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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Lee | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
5,719Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Becket and Lee 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Middlefield 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% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 23% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Lee 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 |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Becket and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Becket 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lee | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| 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.