Compare towns
Becket vs Middlefield vs Springfield
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
352Lowest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Becket and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Springfield 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±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% 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 |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Becket 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 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.