What stands out worked out from the figures below

Becket has the most kids (15.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Becket	Middlefield
People
Population	1,962Highest	352Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA	56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA
	Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Becket and Middlefield 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%	28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Middlefield 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Becket and Middlefield 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	$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average
	Middlefield and Becket 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	$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA
	Becket and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,107±$1kLowest 20% above 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	$4,926Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100 MA: 51.8%	100%±100 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest MA: 10%	12.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	94.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Becket and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Central Berkshire	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.