Compare towns
Becket vs Middlefield vs Randolph 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%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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.
| Measure | Becket | Middlefield | Randolph | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
352Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Randolph 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% |
28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Randolph 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% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 49% above U.S. |
$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$4,926Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Middlefield 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 | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.