Compare towns
Becket vs Lunenburg vs Washington
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%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Lunenburg | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
11,902Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lunenburg 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 |
$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,974±$586Lowest 12% above MA |
— |
| Becket and Lunenburg 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 |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Lunenburg 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lunenburg 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lunenburg | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.