Compare towns
Becket vs Middlefield vs Oakham
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%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Middlefield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
352Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% 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%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield 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 MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham 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 |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Middlefield 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±$82k 36% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Becket 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 |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below 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 |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.