What stands out worked out from the figures below

Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).

Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).

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	Marion
People
Population	1,962Lowest	5,310Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA	53.8±4Highest 35% above MA
	Marion and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marion 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%	27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marion 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Marion 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	$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA	$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA	$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA
	Becket and Marion 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	$5,766Highest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	75.8%±26.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Becket and Marion 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%	9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marion 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	—	#141 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Marion
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.