Compare towns
Becket vs Lyndeborough vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Lyndeborough has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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.
| Measure | Becket | Lyndeborough | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,616Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Oakham 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% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Lyndeborough 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Oakham 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. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Becket and Lyndeborough 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 |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 36% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
39 min 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.